Caiman Cody, a teenager from Tolar and his steer named White Castle won grand champion steer for 2026.
FORT WORTH, Texas — A Hood County teenager won the Fort Worth Stock Show and Rodeo’s Grand Champion Steer award.
Caiman Cody, from Tolar and his steer named White Castle, a European breed, took the win Friday during the Junior Steer Show.
Our partners at the Fort Worth Star-Telegram report that Cody has been showing steers for four years, but started showing cows when he was three years old. Cody is part Hood County 4-H.
“He’s my buddy,” Cody said to Star-Telegram Reporters while hugging White Castle after the show.
Cash Goretska, a teenager from Abilene and his steer Cheeto, a European crossbreed, were crowned reserve champion.
The Fort Worth Stock Show and Rodeo will hold their Junior Sale of Champions Saturday morning at 9 a.m. Stock Show and Rodeo organizers say residents will have free grounds admissions Saturday as a thank you to the citizens of Fort Worth and North Texas.
Last year’s grand champion steer, an American Cross named Alley Cat, sold to Vaden’s Acoustics and Drywall for $375,000. Alley Cat was raised by 16-year-old Mattison Koepp of the La Vernia FFA. The all-time record sale was in 2023 for a black European Cross named “Snoop Dog,” who sold for $440,000.
On Saturday’s auction, White Castle broke that all-time auction record with $550,000! Trico Electric placed the winning bid. Watch the record-breaking moment below: