Woozy is a Simmental raised by Blaize Benson of San Angelo.


Grand champion steer at RodeoHouston auction sells for $1 million



HOUSTON — It's been a historical year at the Houston Livestock Show and Rodeo!

The Jr. Market Grand Champion Steer, Woozy, sold at an auction for $1 million, tying the rodeo's record set in 2022.

In 2022, Don Jordan set the record steer bid to celebrate his and the rodeo's 90th birthdays. He came back in 2024 in hopes of keeping that title.

"This year, I wanted to defend the world record that I have, and my fellow buyers were nice enough to help me make that a reality," he said.

Woozy is a Simmental raised by Blaize Benson of San Angelo.

"I’m incredibly blessed to be here and am grateful to the man above who put me in this situation,” Benson said.

Benson’s mother, Chelsie Benson, said this achievement will greatly impact her son.

“He works really hard, and we’ve done this since he was 8. It doesn't go this way very often. I know this is a core memory that he’ll have forever," she said.

Blaize and his family have shown at the rodeo since 2017, with the exception of 2020.

“It’s really amazing to be able to watch your child’s dreams come true,” Chelsie said. “It was something he has dreamt of since he started coming here. Watching through his eyes has been incredible.”

The Reserve Grand Champion was sold for $650,000.

"It’s just all surreal right now,” Madelyn “Maddie” Shickendanz of Perryton said, “I don’t think it’s really set in. I’ve been on the sale floor before, but never like that as a reserve grand champion.”
Credit: Shelby Pipken

Thanks to Don Jordon for changing young people's lives.
Thanks for posting Roger.

Insane!

I remember a steer selling for $320K a couple of years ago.
I was buying a 450 bushmaster rifle at Bob's Guns and some guy brought it up- I started laughing. He said 'i'm serious- look it up' I said just saw it online myself. He said A STEER and stood there shaking his head laughing.

If they need more, we gotem.

Giving a kid that kind of money can go sideways pretty easily. I hope his folks manage it well for him.

And remember tax time next year.

I'm partial to Red Charolais myself.

I remember back when I was in FFA, it was a big deal when my buddy got 20,000 for his Grand Champion steer.

I know absolutely nothing about livestock and the markets for same. How does the buyer of something like this get his return on investment? Is the sale of semen the only way? Is there a large and active market for this? Please explain.

Thanks, RS

He doesn't.

It's a charity. Steers don't produce semen.


It's a "market" animal so it was fed out and is now "finished".

They kind of get together and pretend it's about the production of meat.

My gd have been showing livestock for many years here in tx. Oftentimes they don't actually own the show animals. A large producer will "loan" them blooded stock to raise and show. Up to the owner to determine the kids share. Most of the time they get it all, not everytime tho.

Exactly what I was questioning. So it is a write off for the buyer, since it is a charity event?

This like the first blue fin tuna of the season shipped to Japan?

Charity and advertisement.

Exactly; that GC steer is of no better meat quality than the steer in the feedlot down the road, well, maybe groomed better? In our sparsely populated county, the GC steer was usually purchased by the local car dealership or a local insurance branch, the other steers were bought by the local bigshots in town or local ranchers in a show of charity to the FFA kids.

It’s a tax write off and the buyer can profit in other ways. For instance our state representative buys steers at the county shows and in return gets votes from parents and teachers plus publicity for the district.

Timing is everything I guess. I had the champion angus steer at the county fair in 1964. I believe I got 60 cents a pound for it, and was happy to get that much.

my friend raises about 6 black Angus steers every year tell they are about 1 1/2 -2 years old keeps these steers in a small pen , these steers get all the water and corn steers want ,has a small area with a roof for steers to lay down in too. they get none of those growing shots either . i think this is some of the best beef in the country to eat much better than any grass fed beef too. Pete53

Kid is guaranteed $75k. After that, it is structured so the kid receives a portion of the next $100k, etc., etc.

Other money goes into scholarship accounts and other programs to benefit more of kids that participate there, instead of just the champ and reserve.

Local business people generally make these purchases for advertising and community support. A stock show will bring in an incredible nuber of people and money over a 2-3 week period, so it is a good source of 4 to the area business community.

The kid only gets so much, not a million dollars

They don't, that sausage Leighton posted pics of in the other thread came from an animal like this, my buddy who owns Industrial Supply in Houston buys several animals every year at the Houston livestock show from these kids, it's good advertising for his business.

I hear that $85K goes to the kid. The rest goes to the Houston livestock show and rodeo.

At our local 4H/FFA sale, local businesses buy the steers/hogs/sheep/etc as a form of advertising. Pictures in local papers. Pictures they can include in they own advertising media. Often related to "somebodies" son/daughter/grandchild/employee's kid/etc... Guy with the physical plant services contract for local school district typically buys several animals throughout the sale as a "Thank you" for the contract.

It's my understanding that the bull the semen came from and the heritage of the cow is also a part of that win. For the most part, you don't get a grand champion steer by accident. It takes the right bull and the right cow to make one.

kwg

Oh my. When you think you’ve seen the stupidest thing ever. LOL

Lots of people have big money to put into buying a good show calf but I've seen some kids win with far less expensive stock. It more depends on how much dedication and work go into raising the calf. Feeding makes a difference but it's mostly work and most times it is a family affair. Those kids deserve a lot of credit for the work they do. A lot of that Grand Champion money will end up being distributed to other kids that showed.

Also if you look at the AG Mech. division you'll be amazed at what those kids make and show. The make a lot of high end trailers of all kinds. Everything from an 80Ton Press Brake to BBQ pits are made to professional standards. AG has come a long way.

The autchioneer lykes too wink at Gilbert 😛😝

More $$$ than synapse connections in their craniums

Hoooh Boy,

Two pages in and you dummies haven't posted an image of the specimen in question yet?

Lemme help: