Thousands of kids gathered on the grounds of the AT&T Center here Jan. 31through Feb. 17, 2008 to show off their homegrown cattle, swine, poultry, sheep, goats and lambs. The Texas Automotive Association was there as well… supporting the youth that entered their animals into the 2008 San Antonio Junior Livestock Auction.You might wonder why TIAA would be involved with such a non-automotive related community service project.

For the past 14 years, TIAA has been a sponsor of this event supporting youth, agriculture and education, the largest of its kind in the world. It’s something that TIAA gets a lot of satisfaction and exposure for, including a fullpage advertisement in the San Antonio Stock Show & Rodeo Program.

David Bippert, who owns Lone Star Radiator Company in San Antonio and organized TIAA’s involvement, also acted as buyer at the auction. He said being involved is a no-brainer for TIAA because the youth grow through their livestock work experience and ultimately benefit financially for future educational purposes. TIAA meanwhile uses the large venue to give back to the statewide community that throughout the year supports the many family owned garages and associate member businesses.

Leading up to the event, the members of TIAA pledge and raise funds, and then Bippert ensures the young people at the livestock auction benefit.

“Under the TIAA umbrella, we network and coop with other businesses to buy animals from kids we choose to support at the auction,” Bippert explained. “We’ve been a VIP buyer for the last four or five years and in return we’ve gotten great recognition for TIAA.”

But, Bippert said, it’s not just about exposure for TIAA. “These kids sacrifice a lot of their time and effort and earn what they get for their animals. And they take 100 percent of their earnings at the auction home with them.”

Hank Amor, TIAA vice president and owner of Oak Hill Automotive in Austin, spent several days at this year’s event, but not in an official capacity for the organization. His son Cody, 11, spent several days in the lamb barn  with his own entrant, a medium wool cross lamb named Curly.

“He’s stepped up to it,” Amor said about his son’s commitment. “He’s disciplined himself to get up when it’s not convenient, and to schedule his life around raising lambs for the livestock show… but it’s all part of the regiment of treating it like a business… keeping up with paperwork, the receipts.”

Cody in turn said he’s grateful for the learning experience. “It takes a lot of work in the morning and after school, to make sure they get the right feed and supplements,” Cody said. “It took about a month to get him halter broke and another month to get him show ready without a halter.

Cody added that ultimately that his and the other kids involvement at the livestock show is about preparing for their future, whether that be in a particular vocation or college experience.

Amor agreed this is exactly the type of community service project TIAA should be a part of.

“We’re supporting our future with our youth,” he said. “It benefits our family and the youth in our communities because it shows we support the entrepreneur in these kids. They are willing to put money, time and skills and invest in these animals as a business. Since TIAA is about family business … I think that really fits as what we stand for as business owners.”

Photo cutline 1: Cody Amor, 11, son of Texas Independent Automotive Association Vice President Hank Amor, brushes his lamb at the San Antonio Rodeo and Livestock Show Feb. 12, 2008.  TIAA was a premier sponsor supporting scholarshs for Texas youth who entered livestock in the country's largets livestock auction.  The association also received great publicity at the event. (Photos by Lee Roberts)

Photo cutline 2: Kelsey Elizabeth Bohlen stands with TIAA State President Gary Pundt (Right) and TIAA State Secretary David Bippert Feb. 16, 2008 at the San Antonio Junior Livestock Show.  She earned $7,800 from TIAA and other business that bought her lamb.