DENVER — The Auction of Junior Livestock Champions at the National Western Stock Show shattered records on Friday at the new CoBank Auction Arena inside the Sue Anschutz-Rodgers Livestock Center.
Of the thousands of junior market animals that competed at the National Western Stock Show this year, 108 advanced to the Auction of Junior Livestock Champions. The auction is the final marketplace for ribbon-winning steers, lambs, hogs and goats that were raised by junior exhibitors, 4-H and FFA youngsters ranging in age from 9 to 18.
The auction set five new records across the top 8 animals, including the Grand Champion Market Steer, selling for $320,000. The top 8 champion animals collectively sold for a new record of $822,500, besting the old record by $185,000.
Grand Champion Steer
- Grand Champion Steer, Boots
- Shown by Cannon Reinmann, 13 years old from Ree Heights, SD
- Sold for $320,000 to Bank of Colorado, smashing the record of $210,000 set in 2025
Reserve Grand Champion Steer
- Reserve Grand Champion Steer, Mile High
- Shown by 15-year-old Hadlie Bell from Bristow, OK
- Sold for $125,000 to Ames Construction Company, to tie the record
Grand Champion Hog
- Grand Champion Market Hog, Lafayette
- Shown by 16-year-old Maria Frasch, of Attica, IN
- Sold for $85,000 to OXY
Reserve Grand Champion Hog
- Reserve Grand Champion Market Hog, Bennie
- Shown by Bailey Stromberger of Iliff, CO
- Sold for record $120,000 to Transwest Trucks, Inc.
Grand Champion Lamb
- Grand Champion Market Lamb, Kiss
- Shown by Sayde Allen, 16, from Elk City, OK
- Sold for a record-breaking $55,000 to TKM Foundation
Reserve Grand Champion Lamb
- Reserve Grand Champion Market Lamb, Willy
- Shown by 16-year-old Delainee Moore, of Canute, OK
- Sold for $50,000 to APC Resources, a new record
Grand Champion Goat
- Grand Champion Goat, Pi
- Shown by Sayde Allen, 16, from Elk City, OK
- Sold for $35,000 to Babson Farms
Reserve Grand Champion Goat
- Reserve Grand Champion Goat, Bonsai
- Shown by Dayton Mortvedt, 15, of Lynnville, IA
- Sold for $32,500, a new record, to Bruce & Bev Wagner
The goal of the auction of Grand Champion and Reserve Grand Champion animals was to encourage today’s youth to seek a future in agriculture and to further their education. A majority of the winning bid price goes directly to the junior exhibitor and 10% of each bid price is donated to support the National Western Scholarship Trust.
The 120th National Western Stock Show also smashed attendance records…