Dallam Hartley County, Texas, resident Fisher Waldrip walks a pig in front of sponsors during the Big Tex Youth Livestock Auction on Oct. 3 at the State Fair of Texas. Sponsors bid on a variety of livestock, such as pigs, goats, chickens and steers.
Lights, camera, auction! The State Fair of Texas hosted its 77th annual Big Tex Youth Livestock Auction and Scholarship Program on Friday in the Briscoe Carpenter Livestock Center. The event helps Future Farmers of America and 4-H award scholarships for college tuition.
Young farmers led their prize-winning steers, goats, pigs or chickens to the center of the arena while voices overlapped in a race to put down the best price. Some animals can cost from $1,000 to $16,000.
“It was really heartbreaking taking his halter off for the last time, knowing he’s not coming back,” Cibolo, Texas, resident Gabriella Reising, 16, said. “It’s always a different type of pain because they always hold a different type of love in your heart.”
Auction spotter Jeremy Clark yells a price to the auctioneer during the Big Tex Youth Livestock Auction on Oct. 3 at the State Fair of Texas. Auction spotters like Clark spotted sponsors raising up numbers to yell back to the auctioneer that someone claimed the price.
Sponsors bid on livestock during the Big Tex Youth Livestock Auction on Oct. 3 at the State Fair of Texas. Bid prices on livestock could go from $1,000 to $16,000.
Montgomery, Texas, resident Kamlynn Mason, 14, walks to the steer pens during the Big Tex Youth Livestock Auction on Oct. 3 at the State Fair of Texas. Mason said she eats, sleeps and breathes showing animals and that her family has always shown them when growing up.
Lubbock, Texas, resident Kanon Buckner, 17, looks at his steer during the Big Tex Youth Livestock Auction on Oct. 3 at the State Fair of Texas. Buckner said his family has been showing animals their whole lives.
San Angelo, Texas, resident Blaize Denson, 16, takes the reins off his steer while waiting his turn for auction during the Big Tex Youth Livestock Auction on Oct. 3 at the State Fair of Texas. Denson’s steer sold for $16,000.
Hawkins, Texas, resident Kash McKamie, 10, walks a pig in front of auctioneers during the Big Tex Youth Livestock Auction on Oct. 3 at the State Fair of Texas. It was McKamie’s sixth time coming to a show.
Post Oak Bend, Texas, resident Frank Beel shakes a young girl’s hand during the Big Tex Youth Livestock Auction on Oct. 3 at the State Fair of Texas. Beel was one of many sponsors buying animals to help Future Farmers of America students and young kids with scholarships and careers.
Cibolo, Texas, resident Gabriella Reising, 16, leads her steer to the pens during the Big Tex Youth Livestock Auction on Oct. 3 at the State Fair of Texas. Reising said she’s had an interest in animals since she was young and now has a strong passion for raising and showing animals.
Parents comfort Cibolo, Texas, resident Gabriella Reising, 16, after dropping off her steer for the last time during the Big Tex Youth Livestock Auction on Oct. 3 at the State Fair of Texas. Reising said it was heartbreaking taking his halter off for the last time.