2019 Maverick County Junior Livestock Show Dedicated to Armando, Luis, and Jose De La Cruz Brothers
By: Ricardo E. Calderon, Eagle Pass Business Journal, Inc., Copyright 2019
The 2019 Maverick County Junior Livestock Show (MCJLS) was dedicated to the dynamic trio set of brothers, Armando, Luis, and Jose De La Cruz, who have selflessly volunteered hundreds of hours and expertise in agriculture and animal husbandry to the youths of Maverick County and the MCJLS for many years, announced Tim Hardt, Board President of the MCJLS Association.
“We are truly blessed to have these three De La Cruz brothers as dedicated and loyal supporters and volunteers of the MCJLS for countless of years,” added Hardt. “Armando, Luis, and Jose are three of five De La Cruz brothers whose parents raised them with strong work ethic, dedication, and perseverance to give their best in all of their endeavors, whether personally or volunteering in the community,” Hardt said. “The MCJLS is pleased and honored to dedicate the 2019 MCJLS to Armando, Luis, and Jose De La Cruz brothers, the hardest working trio of brothers that this organization has been privileged to be associated with,” Hardt added. “They are worthy of this recognition,” Hardt said.
All three De La Cruz brothers attended local public schools while growing up in Eagle Pass, Texas, including Robert E. Lee Elementary, Eagle Pass Junior High School, and Eagle Pass High School. They credit their parents for instilling upon them community service above oneself. All three participated in the MCJLS as youths as 4-H and FFA members and passing it on to their children and now grandchildren.
Armando De La Cruz is currently serving as Vice-President of the MCJLS Board of Directors. He graduated from Eagle Pass High School and continued his studies at Waco Technical College. He participated in FFA judging contests in livestock, soil, and meat while at Eagle Pass High School. He worked for many years at the former Alta Verde Feed Yard in Quemado, Texas before opening his own diesel mechanic shop business known as Bravo Diesel Service. He also opened a second business named De La Cruz Propane. Both businesses have participated as Buyers in the MCJLS Sale. He has served on the MCJLS Board of Directors for many years as a Board Member and now as Vice-President while selflessly helping the youths of Maverick County by teaching them about agriculture and animal husbandry. He also has participated in countless of MCJLS fundraisers and events. His unselfish dedication and volunteerism to the MCJLS has benefited thousands of youths in Maverick County over the years.
Luis De La Cruz followed the family tradition of attending Robert E. Lee Elementary, Eagle Pass Junior High, and Eagle Pass High School. He credits his parents for teaching him to be industrious and serving the community, traits he honed while being a member of 4-H and FFA in Maverick County. He has worked at Runnels Peters Feed Yards for 22 years in Quemado, Texas. After graduating from college, Luis married Teresa Johnson and has three children, Luis, Mark, and Krystal. Luis and Teresa instilled their passion for agriculture and animal husbandry, traditional family values, and a strong work ethic to their three children. His three children successfully raised and showed steers in Eagle Pass, San Antonio, and Houston. He has continuously volunteered transporting the animals or livestock of 4-H and FFA members to local and out of town shows. He has enjoyed passing his wisdom in animal husbandry to MCJLS Exhibitors for over 16 years. He and his employer, Runnels Peters Feed Yards, have been staunch supporters of the MCJLS for many years.
Jose De La Cruz is the youngest of the five De La Cruz brothers. Like his brothers before him, he attended Robert E. Lee Elementary, Eagle Pass Junior High, and Eagle Pass High School. He participated in the MCJLS as a youth as a 4-H and FFA member. He followed the family tradition of raising and showing animals at the MCJLS as a youth, learning important life lessons. He and his wife, Sylvia, have two children, Jose Angel and Jesse James. In 2009, he opened a feed store named Maverick Feed Supply in Eagle Pass to supply quality feeds to local animal breeders. Since childhood, his parents and older brothers instilled upon him the value of community service. He enjoys sharing his knowledge about animal husbandry and feeds with young Maverick County 4-H and FFA members while volunteering many hours with the MCJLS annually.
The Eagle Pass Business Journal congratulates Armando, Luis, and Jose De La Cruz for their extraordinary community service to the youths of Maverick County and being honored with the dedication of the 2019 MCJLS in their names.
