Auctions & Sales
The Houston Livestock Show and Rodeo™ junior market auctions reward young Texas 4-H and FFA students for their hard work year round. Volunteers on the five auction committees ensure that all exhibitors who make the auction receive above-market prices for their junior market animals. Additionally, various commercial livestock sales are held during the Rodeo.
Silver Spur Club
The Silver Spur Club includes donors who have spent a cumulative of $25,000 or more, or buying organizations who have spent a cumulative of $50,000 or more, at the Barrow, Lamb & Goat, Poultry, School Art, Steer or Wine auctions.
2023 Junior Market Auction Champion Donors
BARROW
Grand Champion
- Exhibitor: Sage Bearden
- Club/Chapter: Crowell FFA
- Price: $375,000 (Rodeo Record)
- Donors: Gregg Reyes – Reytec Construction, Sabra Smith, Kathy & Matt Norris, and Lisa Blackwood
- Rodeo Record: $375,000 (2023)
RESERVE GRAND CHAMPION
- Exhibitor: Zachery “Ky” Blount
- Club/Chapter: Kerr County 4-H
- Price: $320,000 (Rodeo Record)
- Donors: Sheri & Rob Walker, Andrea & Scott Fish, Sherry & Connard Barker, and Mark Ward
- Rodeo Record: $320,000 (2023)
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Broilers
Grand Champion
- Exhibitor: Kamryn Till
- Club/Chapter: El Campo FFA
- Price: $300,000 (Rodeo Record)
- Donors: Becky & Kelly Joy, J Alan Kent Development – Julie & Alan Kent, Debbie & Joey McGuire, and Cheryl & Dr. Barry Heaton
- Rodeo Record: $300,000 (2023)
RESERVE GRAND CHAMPION
- Exhibitor: Gage Wilson
- Club/Chapter: El Campo FFA
- Price: $175,000 (Rodeo Record)
- Donors: Lauren & Darrell Palmer, Dr. Hanna Lindskog & Jonathan Rhoads, Holly & John Knudsen IV, and Josh Harrison
- Rodeo Record: $175,000 (2023)
GOAT
Grand Champion
- Exhibitor: Brynlee Hogg
- Club/Chapter: Lubbock County 4-H
- Price: $240,000 (Rodeo Record)
- Donors: Skip Avara, Melissa & Jimmy Guinn II, Fire Safe Protection Services, L.P. – Lizzy & Stephen McKinney, and Tea & Bill Pinkley
- Rodeo Record: $240,000 (2023)
RESERVE GRAND CHAMPION
- Exhibitor: Brett Bowers
- Club/Chapter: Lubbock County 4-H
- Price: $135,000
- Donors: Michelle Iversen Jeffery in Honor of Christy Iversen, Jay Graham, Joyce & Marcus Abdo, and KYM Coleman Education Foundation (KCEF)
- Rodeo Record: $190,000 (2022)
LAMB
Grand Champion
- Exhibitor: John Austin North
- Club/Chapter: Sanger FFA
- Price: $350,000 (Rodeo Record)
- Donors: The Hildebrand Family, in memory of Ruth Ann and Dr. Tommy Hildebrand
- Rodeo Record: $350,000 (2023)
RESERVE GRAND CHAMPION
- Exhibitor: Cole Bynum
- Club/Chapter: Mildred 4-H
- Price: $160,000
- Donors: Amy & Mark Melton, Mary & Ken Hucherson, Mary Lee & Alan Stigall, and Tammy, Peyton & Mitchell Barrier
- Rodeo Record: $185,000 (2022)
STEER
Grand Champion
- Exhibitor: Stiles Patin
- Club/Chapter: Milam County 4-H
- Price: $550,000
- Donors: J Alan Kent Development – Julie & Alan Kent, Sheri & Rob Walker, Randa & Ray Gilliam, and Andrea & Scott Fish
- Rodeo Record: $1,000,000 (2022)
RESERVE GRAND CHAMPION
- Exhibitor: Tristan Himes
- Club/Chapter: Sterling County 4-H
- Price: $540,000
- Donors: Champagne Cowgirls
- Rodeo Record: $675,000 (2022)
TURKEY
Grand Champion
- Exhibitor: Tyler John
- Club/Chapter: La Vernia FFA
- Price: $200,000 (Rodeo Record)
- Donors: Gregory N. Miller, Mary & Joe Chastang, Dayna & Trey Willbanks, and Jennifer & Doug Bosch
- Rodeo Record: $200,000 (2023)
RESERVE GRAND CHAMPION
- Exhibitor: Trent Ellebracht
- Club/Chapter: La Vernia FFA
- Price: $195,000 (Rodeo Record)
- Donors: Billy Parker, Mach Industrial Group – Kathleen & Tom Mach, in memory of Harry Mach, Meredith & Patrick Chastang, and Ron Logan
- Rodeo Record: $195,000 (2023)
2023 School Art Auction Champion Donors
Grand Champion
- Exhibitor: Mia Huckman
- School District: Lamar CISD
- Art: painting, “Our Last Roundup”
- Price: $275,000 (Rodeo Record)
- Donors: J Alan Kent Development – Julie & Alan Kent, Shelly & Jerome Mulanax, Kristina & Paul Somerville, and Jennifer, Joe & Bob Van Matre
- Rodeo Record: $275,000 (2023)
RESERVE GRAND CHAMPION
- Exhibitor: Eliza Hoffman
- School District: Clear Creek ISD
- Art: painting, “Morning Dove”
- Price: $185,000
- Donors: Randa & Ray Gilliam, Mary & Ken Hucherson, Cheryl & Gary Deitcher, and Andrea & Scott Fish
- Rodeo Record: $265,000 (2022)
2023 Wine Auction Champion Donors
Grand Champion
- Wine: Le Chemin du Roi Brut, Champagne AOC, NV
- Price: $325,000 (Rodeo Record)
- Donors: J Alan Kent Development – Julie & Alan Kent, Randa & Ray Gilliam, Andrea & Bruce Bryant, and John M. Cotterell
- Rodeo Record: $325,000 (2023)
RESERVE GRAND CHAMPION
- Wine: Bernhardt Winery Antiquity Chardonnay Reserve, Danube Plain, 2020
- Price: $165,000
- Donors: Sire Spirits, Curtis “50 Cent” Jackson
- Rodeo Record: $215,000 (2020)
HOW AUCTIONS WORK
Generous donors are not only supporting the exhibitors’ livestock projects, the donations also go toward funding scholarships and educational programs for the youth of Texas. Based upon placing, the Houston Livestock Show and Rodeo establishes a guaranteed payment for each exhibitor who qualifies for a junior market auction. See the payout distribution below.
Payout Distribution
The following payout distribution shows the guaranteed payment for each exhibitor placing. Each auction is conducted by a dedicated committee of volunteers who pre-sell a majority of the lots to ensure that each exhibitor receives a minimum guaranteed amount, regardless of whether or not a bid is received on every lot. Guaranteed premiums are set at a level to maximize the fundraising ability of each auction committee while ensuring that exhibitors receive a premium over market value. Auction committees actually begin pre-selling lots in the fall of the year with the goal of raising the total guaranteed premium in advance of the auction.