The State Fair of Texas is excited to debut a new tradition to the fairgrounds during the 2017 season. Big Tex has a new friend, and you can call him “The Champ.” Standing at 10 feet tall and stretching 15 feet long, “The Champ” can be found at the center of Pan Am Circle, directly in front of the new Briscoe Carpenter Livestock Center.
“The Champ” commemorates the Grand Champion Market Steer of the annual State Fair of Texas Youth Livestock Auction. For the start of the 2017 Fair season, “The Champ” will take on the appearance of Clifford, the Grand Champion Steer of 2016 that sold for a record $131,000.
On the first Thursday of every Fair, a new Grand Champion Market Steer is named. Immediately after the Grand Champion Market Steer is chosen, a crew of Texas artists will work to repaint and have “The Champ” ready in time for the Youth Livestock Auction on October 6.
The winning steer is sold at the Fair’s annual Youth Livestock Auction. A plaque denoting the sale price of the steer, along with the name of the student who raised him, is then added to this monument of Texas livestock heritage.
This bovine beauty aligns with an important pillar to our organization, agriculture. In 2016, approximately 7,500 students participated in the competitive livestock events and leadership contests at the Fair. Through the Youth Livestock Auction and Scholarship Program, the State Fair has awarded more than $24 million in auction awards and college scholarships to students around the Lone State.
Countless hours of care and commitment are devoted by young Texans when raising an animal for the show ring. The State Fair of Texas is proud to honor the accomplishments of its youth exhibitors and hopes to inspire future competitors through the annual dedication of “The Champ.”
Don’t miss out on your chance to see “The Champ” in person at the 2017 State Fair of Texas. This year’s event runs from Friday, September 29 to Sunday, October 22 in historic Fair Park. Your ticket to the Fair is your ticket to Texas-sized fun, with hundreds of daily shows, concerts, activities and exhibits all included in the price of admission. Purchase your tickets and coupons online today at BigTex.com/Tickets.