Top 8 animals at 2017 junior auction set all-time record of $442,500
The 2017 auction junior livestock champions set a National Western Stock Show record with the top eight champion animals posting total sales of $442,500. The grand champion steer set a record at $135,000. The reserve grand champion steer sold for a record-breaking $107,500, exceeding the previous year’s bid of $70,000.
The money invested supports the junior exhibitors that raised the animal as they plan for their agricultural future and college educations. In addition, a portion of the proceeds supports the National Western Scholarship Trust, which funds scholarships in agriculture and rural medicine at colleges throughout Colorado and Wyoming. This year 80 students received funds to aid their education.
The top six Junior Livestock animals were auctioned off live on 9News.
The grand champion steer weighing 1,379 pounds, sold for $135,000, to Kent Stevinson, as 12-year-old Lillie Skiles, of Dalhart, Texas, exhibited the steer. She plans to use the money to go to college.
TransWest Trucks, Inc., set a record, buying the reserve grand champion steer for $107,500, shown by 15-year-old Mikala Grady from Grandview, Texas. This is Grady’s first time showing at the National Western Stock Show. Grady hopes to attend Texas A&M University to study veterinary medicine.
The grand champion hog sold for $40,000 to Denver Metro Chamber of Commerce. The junior exhibitor is 15-year-old Christon Watson from Whitesboro, Texas. Watson hopes to use the money to further her showing career, and eventually attend college at Texas A&M and become a veterinarian.
The reserve champion hog was sold for a record-setting $38,000 to Anadarko Petroleum Corp., and shown by Grady, who was also the reserve grand champion steer exhibitor. This is the first time in many years that one exhibitor has shown two champions in the auction.
The grand champion lamb was sold for $43,000 to Brannan Sand and Gravel and was shown by 18-year-old Toree Fraze of Comanche, Texas. She plans to attend Texas Tech University and study agriculture business.
The reserve grand champion lamb went to Colorado Business Bank with the highest bid ever of $34,000. The junior exhibitor is 14-year-old Madison Rule of Hawarden, Iowa. This year marks Rule’s fourth year showing at the National Western.
The grand champion goat sold for $30,000 to PEI and was shown by 11-year old Ava Shroyer, from DeGraff, Ohio. This was Ava’s first appearance in the National Western.
Exhibiting the reserve grand champion goat was 15-year-old Tara Hummel, from Cabery, Illinois, purchased by Greenberg Traurig, LLP for $15,000. Tara has shown at the National Western for four years.
