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Grand champion steer fetches $141K at auction, a State Fair of Texas record

Frank Deel of Kaufman won the prized steer. But the real winner was 12-year-old exhibitor Tristan Himes of Sterling City.

A State Fair of Texas record was set Friday afternoon when "every good vegan's nightmare" was sold for $141,000 at the Youth Livestock Auction.

Bidding for the fair's grand champion steer, otherwise known as Tex, opened at $50,000 and exceeded $130,000 within 60 seconds.

The auctioneer then paused to remind buyers that this would be the only grand champion market beef steer up for auction that day.

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"You can't get these at Wally World," he said. "You can't get them at Buc-ee's."

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After another round of bidding, Frank Deel of Kaufman won the prized steer. But the real winner was 12-year-old exhibitor Tristan Himes of Sterling City.

Tristan had been raising Tex since March of last year and was elated to be part of Friday's auction.

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"It's great for the industry," said Tristan, who hopes to one day study agricultural science at Texas Tech University. "It's what I'm going to do."

The winning bidder is no newcomer to the auction.

The CEO of Superior Trailer Sales and Leasing in Sunnyvale, Deel bought a reserve grand champion steer two years ago, and he has the belt buckle to prove it. With this new purchase, he has a new commemorative belt buckle to wear.

Deel said Tex will be resold at market value, likely to a meat processing plant. The auction proceeds will be divided between the exhibitor, who earns $30,000, and youth scholarships through the State Fair of Texas Youth Auction and Scholarship program, a fair spokeswoman said.

"It feels good to give to the children," Deel said. "That's what this is all about: giving back."