Agriculture has been a part of the State Fair of Texas tradition since the first exposition in 1886, and every year since Texas youth are given the opportunity to showcase their livestock in hopes of winning the coveted Grand Champion award. Although the State Fair was unable to hold our traditional exposition in 2020 due to the COVID-19 pandemic, our livestock team worked tirelessly to implement the proper safety precautions so that a portion of our annual livestock shows could take place. This means that Texas youth from all corners of the state were able to travel to Fair Park and compete in livestock events in a year that so many other livestock showing opportunities were cut short or canceled all together.
Another livestock tradition that the Fair was safely able to continue this year was the annual Big Tex Youth Livestock Auction, which allows for selected livestock to be auctioned with proceeds going to the student themselves and towards the Big Tex Scholarship Program. There are approximately 433 spots available during this yearly auction, so Texas youth bring their “A-game” each year, consistently impressing both the judges and the audience.
The State Fair of Texas is proud to present the 2020 Grand Champion Market Steer, the Grand Champion Market Barrow, the Grand Champion Market Lamb, the Grand Champion Market Goat, and the Grand Champion Market Broiler.
Zane Potter from Harris County 4-H took home the grand prize of Grand Champion Market Steer. His steer, named “Carney Man,” was purchased by the Big Tex Champion Club for $75,000.
The Grand Champion Market Barrow, owned by Kloee Foster of Honey Grove FFA, sold to Frank Deel and Primera Companies for $15,500.
Atmos Energy purchased the Grand Champion Market Lamb for $15,000 from Brynlee Hogg, Lubbock County 4-H.
The Grand Champion Market Goat, owned by Courtney Thurman from Brazos County 4-H, went for $15,000 to the Briscoe and Carpenter Families.
Canon Rosser from Canyon FFA sold his Grand Champion Market Broiler to the Ablon Family for $10,000.
