Whopping $7.3M raised at this year’s Fort Worth Stock Show & Rodeo livestock auctions

Matt Leclercq
·2 min read

The sale of the grand champion steer at the Fort Worth Stock Show & Rodeo wasn’t the only record smashed this year.

Overall proceeds of this year’s auctions generated $7.3 million, eclipsing last year’s total by $1.2 million, according to the Stock Show. Revenue from the sales have risen more than 35 percent since 2020.

The biggest sale this year was the $440,000 paid for the grand champion steer by Fort Wort-based insurance and financial broker group Higginbotham & Associates. The winning bid for the European Crossbred steer owned by Sadie Wampler, a 15-year-old 4-H member from Canyon, surpassed the 2022 champion price by $130,000.

“I’m continually amazed at the hard work our volunteers devote to supporting the youth of Texas,” said Brad Barnes, the Stock Show president and general manager, in a statement. “Their efforts underscore the tremendous generosity of the wonderful donors here in the Fort Worth area.”

Sadie Wampler, 15, poses with judges after her steer was recognized as Grand Champion during the Fort Worth Stock Show and Rodeo’s Jr. Steer Show on Friday, Feb. 3, 2023.
Sadie Wampler, 15, poses with judges after her steer was recognized as Grand Champion during the Fort Worth Stock Show and Rodeo’s Jr. Steer Show on Friday, Feb. 3, 2023.

The reserve grand champion shown by Mason Grady, a 4-H member from Grandview, was purchased by Hillwood for $200,000.

The grand champion barrow, a crossbred shown by FFA member Brynn Fort of Burkburnett, went for a final bid of $120,000 from Rosenthal 1997 Charitable Lead Annuity Trust, Penrose Group, Standard Meat Co. and Syracuse Sausage, according to the Stock Show.

Other top winning bids were:

  • $50,000 for the reserve grand champion barrow, exhibited by FFA member Kenley Krohn of Lamesa, by Steven Luskey.

  • $75,000 for the grand champion wether lamb, a medium wool crossbred shown by 4-H member Graham Newsom from Olton, by J. Bryan King, Caroline Carter King, Mary Katherine King and Gexpro Services.

  • $70,000 for the reserve grand champion lamb exhibited by Landrie Lain, a 4-H member from Weatherford, by the Patrick O. Rayes Family Partnership.

  • $40,000 for the grand champion wether goat shown by Blaze Mock, a 4-H member from Comfort, by Test Equity, Gexpro Services, Distribution Solutions Group and Lawson Products.

  • $17,500 for the reserve grand champion wether goat exhibited by Shepherd Silvers, a FFA member from Junction, by Susan and Stephen Butt.

The ribbon for Grand Champion during the Fort Worth Stock Show and Rodeo’s Jr. Steer Show on Friday, Feb. 3, 2023.
The ribbon for Grand Champion during the Fort Worth Stock Show and Rodeo’s Jr. Steer Show on Friday, Feb. 3, 2023.
Judges carefully observe steer during the Fort Worth Stock Show and Rodeo’s Jr. Steer Show on Friday, Feb. 3, 2023.
Judges carefully observe steer during the Fort Worth Stock Show and Rodeo’s Jr. Steer Show on Friday, Feb. 3, 2023.