Records were smashed for a second consecutive year at the Fort Worth Stock Show & Rodeo Jr. Sale of Champions on Feb. 4. The auction generated $7.3 million – raised by area individuals, business and foundations, beating last year’s total by $1.2 million. Since the 2020 auction, the Jr. Sale of Champions revenues have increased by more than 35%, according to a FWSS release.
The Grand Champion Steer blew away last year’s sale record. Higginbotham Insurance and Financial Services withstood all other bidders in the West Arena with their $440,000 nod for the European Crossbred steer owned by Sadie Wampler, a 4-H member from Canyon, Texas. The winning bid topped the 2022 grand champion steer price by an impressive $130,000. The Reserve Grand Champion was shown by Mason Grady, a 4-H member from Grandview, Texas. Grady’s steer was purchased by Hillwood for $200,000. The 2022 record was $310,000.
The Grand Champion Barrow went for a final bid of $120,000, up $20,000 from the 2022 price of $100,000. This crossbred barrow was shown by Brynn Fort, a Burkburnett, Texas FFA member. The barrow was purchased from Rosenthal 1997 Charitable Lead Annuity Trust, Penrose Group, Standard Meat Co. and Syracuse Sausage. Steven Luskey topped the bidding at $50,000 for the Reserve Grand Champion Barrow, exhibited by Kenley Krohn, a FFA member from Lamesa, Texas.
“What a week it was! We topped it off by purchasing three barrows for $54,500 in the Sale of Champions. The youth we have met this week were the most respectful and appreciative kids you will ever come across! We are honored to know them and get to watch them grow each year,” Band of Barrows said on its Facebook page. Band of Barrows was founded in April 2019. It’s a non-profit corporation built by leaders and patrons alike, to enrich young peoples’ lives and futures by funding junior barrow sales in North Texas each year.
“I’m continually amazed at the hard work our volunteers devote to supporting the youth of Texas,” Stock Show President and General Manager Brad Barnes said in a release. “Their efforts underscore the tremendous generosity of the wonderful donors here in the Fort Worth area.”
The Grand Champion Wether Lamb was a medium wool crossbred shown by 4-H member Graham Newsom from Olton, Texas, and was purchased by J. Bryan King, Caroline Carter King, Mary Katherine King and Gexpro Services for $75,000. Landrie Lain, a 4-H member from Weatherford, Texas, exhibited the Reserve Grand Champion Lamb that sold for $70,000. The Patrick O. Rayes Family Partnership purchased Lain’s medium wool crossbred.
In wether goats, the Grand Champion was shown by Blaze Mock, a 4-H member from Comfort, Texas and sold for $40,000 to Test Equity, Gexpro Services, Distribution Solutions Group and Lawson Products. The Reserve Grand Champion Weather Goat was exhibited by Shepherd Silvers, a FFA member from Junction, Texas and fetched a winning bid of $17,500 from Susan and Stephen Butt.
Editor’s Note: The Fort Worth Stock Show Syndicate, along with Women Steering Business, Band of Barrows, U Ol’ Goat Committee, Ladies on the Lamb, and the Tallest Hog at the Trough Syndicate were responsible for the purchase of all animals offered in the Junior Sale of Champions.
