Zane Potter from Harris County 4-H Club, age 16, took home the grand prize for his winning steer, Carney Man, at the 72nd Big Tex Youth Livestock Auction. Potter’s Grand Champion Market Steer sold for $75,000 to the Big Tex Champion Club.
The student will keep $30,000 of the $75,000 selling price. The rest goes to the Big Tex Scholarship Program that provides college scholarships for other deserving students throughout the Lone Star State. Over $1 million was raised for Texas youth in the auction.
With 389 steers competing in the Youth Market Steer Show, it was no easy feat to earn the Grand Champion title. This year’s auction featured hundreds of steers and hours of judging.
More Grand Champion Winners
Photo: State Fair of Texas
Mason Grady from Johnson County 4-H sold his Reserve Grand Champion Market Steer to Roger Perry, Rebcon, Inc, Price Waterhouse Coopers, Tomco, and Freeman Mazda Hyundai for $21,000. The Grand Champion Market Barrow, owned by Kloee Foster of Honey Grove FFA, sold to Frank Deel and Primera Companies for $15,500.
Atmos Energy purchased the Grand Champion Market Lamb for $15,000 from Brynlee Hogg, Lubbock County 4-H Club. The Grand Champion Market Goat, owned by Courtney Thurman from Brazos County 4-H, went for $15,000 to the Briscoe and Carpenter Families. Canon Rosser from Canyon FFA sold his Grand Champion Market Broiler sold to the Ablon Family for $10,000.
Full-time employees of the State Fair of Texas continued their tradition by pitching in to purchase an animal in the auction. The State Fair team bid on both a Breed Champion Market Steer owned by Elizabeth Norwood, Ellis County 4-H, for $11,000; and a Breed Champion Market Lamb owned by Emma Osbourn of Llano County 4-H for $5,200. The team feels strongly about contributing to the Big Tex Youth Livestock Auction and Scholarship Program, since it embodies the State Fair’s mission of promoting agriculture, education, and community involvement.
Photo: State Fair of Texas
The Big Tex Youth Livestock Auction represents the extreme dedication of the exhibitors participating, along with the planning and efforts of those who organize the event. In a typical year, the Youth Livestock Auction brings families and friends together to benefit the community while providing fairgoers with some good, old-fashioned fun. This year’s auction was not open to the public due to COVID-19 precautions but was available to livestream.
Approximately 2,700 entries from around the state competed for one of the coveted 433 spots in the 2020 Auction. Students earning an Auction spot can sell their animals to the highest bidder. Students then receive a previously determined maximum payment for their animal, with all excess proceeds donated to the Big Tex Youth Livestock Auction and Scholarship Program.
The Program benefits students who have competed in youth livestock events at the State Fair, as well as students attending high schools in the Fair Park area. Through the Big Tex Youth Livestock Auction and Scholarship Program, the State Fair has awarded more than $27 million in auction awards and scholarships.
Photo: State Fair of Texas
The State Fair of Texas is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization and does not receive any government funding or support. Its nonprofit purpose is funded through the proceeds from the annual exposition. Due to the COVID-19 pandemic, the 2020 State Fair of Texas was canceled. However, the proceeds from the Big Tex Fair Food Drive-Thru will serve as a fraction of a typical year’s contributions.
The net proceeds from the Fair help preserve and improve Fair Park. They also underwrite museums, community initiatives, and scholarship programs to support Texas students pursuing higher education. The State Fair of Texas has celebrated all things Texan since its inception in 1886, by promoting agriculture, education, and community involvement. The 2021 Exposition runs Sept. 24-Oct. 18 in Fair Park. Visit BigTex.com for more information.