Houston Rodeo Money Madness
HOUSTON RODEO MADNESS: STEER SELLS FOR $690K — AND IT WASN’T EVEN THE CHAMP!
Buckle up, cowboy, the Houston Livestock Show & Rodeo just flipped the script in a way nobody saw coming. In 2025, the Reserve Grand Champion Steer yeah, the runner-up pulled in a record-shattering $690,000 at auction, officially making it the highest livestock payout in Rodeo Houston history!
Let that sink in: Second place walked away with nearly three-quarters of a million dollars. The actual Grand Champion? A respectable, but now second-best $675,000. It’s the first time in rodeo history the reserve out-earned the champ and folks are still scratching their heads under their Stetsons.
The buyer? A power team of big-bucks donors who clearly saw something in that steer they couldn’t resist or maybe they just wanted to make headlines (mission accomplished). Either way, that young exhibitor is probably still grinning in their boots.
But wait, there’s more! The Grand Champion Barrow (that’s a pig for you city boys) sold for an insane $501,000. Goats, lambs and even turkeys fetched prices that would make your truck payment look like pocket change. We’re talking:
- Goat – $400K
- Lamb – $450K
- Turkey – $315K
And just last year? A steer named “Woozy” tied the all-time record with a jaw-dropping $1 million sale. That was a private purchase though, not part of the official junior auction ring. That means this year’s $690K reserve takes the crown for highest guaranteed payout.
So what does it all mean? At the Houston Rodeo, livestock isn’t just about blue ribbons and 4-H pride; it’s big money, serious bragging rights, and Texas-sized legend-making.
Next time someone tells you it’s “just a cow,” hit ’em with this: That cow bought a ranch!
