Trigger-happy Syndicate raises stakes at Stock Show
In less than six minutes, 10-year-old Hayden Tucker of Round Rock, Texas, with the help of quick-on-the-trigger bidding at the 111th Fort Worth Stock Show’s Sale of Champions, earned enough money for her college education – and then some.
Tucker, the top winner in only her second year of showing steers, capped a record $185,000 prize on Feb. 3 for her grand champion steer, Trigger. The 1,312-pound jet black crossbred European, chosen from more than 2,600 steers, highlighted the junior sale, the grand finale of the nationÂ’s oldest stock show and rodeo.
A fast-paced bidding war among Hillwood Properties, Central Market/H.E.B., Del FriscoÂ’s Double Eagle Steakhouse and Woodcrest Capital ended with a final offer from David Simpson, representing XTO Energy Inc. Simpson acted on behalf of his father, XTO chairman and CEO Bob Simpson, who placed his bid via cell phone. The winning purchase price shattered XTOÂ’s $160,000 bid for last yearÂ’s grand champion steer.
“You liking it so far?” auctioneer Doac Lambert asked when XTO raised the bid to $165,000. “Fort Worth, listen to me,” he said. “We’re in new record territory for a grand champion steer.”
Lambert tried to coax the bidders to reach higher stakes with a $200,000 bid but there were no takers.
Overall, sale proceeds shot down previous records. The Fort Worth Stock Show Syndicate, a group of local businessmen and businesswomen dedicated to promoting agricultural education for Texas youth, spent a record $2.316 million for 278 steers, barrows, lambs and goats offered in the West Arena. Last yearÂ’s sales totaled $2.168 million. The independent organization was formed in 1980 and has spent more than $20 million by way of bids and scholarships that are presented to the junior exhibitors each year.
“Record entries and sales result in record numbers of youth benefiting from the junior livestock show and the efforts of our many dedicated volunteers,” said W.R. “Bob” Watt Jr., stock show president and general manager. “We are very pleased with the results.”
Bob Akin Jr., chairman of the syndicate, said that, like last yearÂ’s grand champion steer, Trigger was donated to the Fort Worth ZooÂ’s Texas Wild! Exhibit, where heÂ’ll remain, until replaced by next yearÂ’s top beef.
Keylan Williams, 14, of Slaton, Texas, showed the reserve grand champion steer, a 1,332-pound European crossbreed named The Hammer. Del FriscoÂ’s Double Eagle Steak House purchased the animal for $100,000.
Hofer Builders purchased the grand champion barrow, shown by Cade Verett, 11, of Lamesa, Texas, for $22,000. Hill Development bid $11,000 for the reserve champion barrow shown by Austin Crissman, 13, of Bells, Texas.
The grand champion lamb, shown by Morgan Miller, 17, of Ropesville, Texas, was sold to the Ladies on the Lamb for $20,000. The club paid $18,000 for the reserve champion lamb, exhibited by Tori Kercheville, 15, of Liberty Hill, Texas.
Baylor All Saints Medical Center paid $14,000 for the grand champion wether goat, shown by 10-year-old Sierra Martin of Mason, Texas. The reserve champion wether goat, shown by Bill Nuche, 17, of Bryan, Texas, was purchased by Hillwood for $11,000.
Contact Dillard at bdillard@bizpress.net
