Fair employees support education

By Karissa Condoianis

The 72nd Annual Big Tex Youth Livestock Auction kicked off with the sale of the Grand Champion Market Steer. This year’s prize-winning steer was purchased by Big Tex Champion Club with their generous bid of $75,000. The preliminary amount raised for Texas youth in the auction is more than $1 million.

With 389 steers competing in the Youth Market Steer Show this year, earning the Grand Champion title was no easy feat. After hundreds of steers and hours of judging, the final decision was made; Zane Potter from Harris County 4-H, age 16, took home the grand prize for his winning steer, Carney Man.

An annual tradition since 2015, full-time employees of the State Fair of Texas pitch in to purchase an animal in the auction. Continuing that tradition for the fifth year in a row, 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. 

Because the Big Tex Youth Livestock Auction and Scholarship Program truly embodies the State Fair’s mission of promoting agriculture, education and community involvement, the team feels very passionately about contributing to this cause.

This year, to adhere to COVID-19 precautions, the auction was not open to the public, but was available to livestream. 

The State Fair has awarded more than $27 million in auction awards and scholarships.