'Tex' named State Fair of Texas's grand champion steer

DALLAS - Judges crowned a new grand champion steer for this year’s State Fair of Texas.

The aptly named “Tex” was raised by 12-year-old Tristan Himes from Sterling County. That’s just east of Midland.

“It was great. There’s nothing like the State Fair of Texas,” he said.

Another one of Himes’ steers won grand champion at the San Antonio Stock Show and Rodeo. He talked to FOX 4’s Good Day about what it takes to raise a steer and make it to the top spot.

“It’s gotta be just the determination to get up every day. You’ve got to do it every day, no days off if you want to win,” he said.

Tex’s likeness was painted on a 10-foot-tall mascot named ‘The Champ’ overnight. He will go up for auction Friday afternoon.

This is the 69th annual youth livestock auction at the fair, a tradition since the 40s. Last year’s grand champion sold for a record $131,000.

Through the youth livestock auction and scholarship program, the State Fair of Texas has awarded more than $24 million in auction awards and scholarships.

About 3,000 students from around the state competed for one of the coveted 281 spots in the auction.

LINK: bigtex.com