The 2023 Auction of Junior Livestock Champions at this year’s National Western Stock Show in Denver, CO, was a sold-out affair that attracted many buyers eager to support young men and women in agriculture.
This year, the grand champion steer, Stan, aka Stan The Man, exhibited by Justin Pfannebecker from LaSalle, CO, sold for a record $200,000. The previous record was in 2022 when the grand champion steer sold for $160,000. The reserve champion hog, exhibited by Karsyn Fetzer of Kersey, CO, sold for a record $75,000, topping the former record of $50,000 in 2022.
Other sales included the grand champion lamb, shown by Hayden Schroeder, which sold for $50,000 and the grand champion goat, shown by Dakota Martin, which sold for $30,000.
The money invested supports the junior exhibitors that raised the animals for their agricultural futures and college educations. In addition, a portion of the proceeds supports the National Western Scholarship Trust.
