Hometown Hero: Shorty Roberson

A man who grew up in the city has the ranch and the farm in his blood.

Shorty Roberson was born and raised in Mesquite, graduated from North Mesquite High School and is a Technical Trainer for Atmos. For 21 years, he's volunteered at the State Fair of Texas on the Youth Livestock Committee. He loves spending 7 to 12 hour days in the Livestock Barns.

It was Youth Livestock Judging Day when I covered Shorty as a Hometown Hero. More than 400 junior high and high school students from across Texas learned how to judge cattle, sheep, pigs and lambs in the Livestock Pavilion. They are learning from Shorty. He's one of 400 volunteers on the committee.

Many of the young Texans will be future farmers, ranchers and members of the agriculture industry.

Texas is number 1 in the nation in producing cattle, hay, wool and cotton. Shorty hopes you'll stop in the livestock barns on the southeast side of the Fairgrounds and talk to the exhibitors. There's a lot to learn and I had a fascinating time there.

The Livestock Barn helps create scholarship money for the students who attend the 5 DISD schools in the shadow of Big Tex.