HOUSTON — It's been a historical year at the Houston Livestock Show and Rodeo!
The Jr. Market Grand Champion Steer, Woozy, sold at an auction for $1 million, tying the rodeo's record set in 2022.
In 2022, Don Jordan set the record steer bid to celebrate his and the rodeo's 90th birthdays. He came back in 2024 in hopes of keeping that title.
"This year, I wanted to defend the world record that I have, and my fellow buyers were nice enough to help me make that a reality," he said.
Woozy is a Simmental raised by Blaize Benson of San Angelo.
"I’m incredibly blessed to be here and am grateful to the man above who put me in this situation,” Benson said.
Benson’s mother, Chelsie Benson, said this achievement will greatly impact her son.
“He works really hard, and we’ve done this since he was 8. It doesn't go this way very often. I know this is a core memory that he’ll have forever," she said.
Blaize and his family have shown at the rodeo since 2017, with the exception of 2020.
“It’s really amazing to be able to watch your child’s dreams come true,” Chelsie said. “It was something he has dreamt of since he started coming here. Watching through his eyes has been incredible.”
The Reserve Grand Champion was sold for $650,000.
"It’s just all surreal right now,” Madelyn “Maddie” Shickendanz of Perryton said. “I don’t think it’s really set in. I’ve been on the sale floor before, but never like that as a reserve grand champion.”
