Supporting youth exhibitors through the exciting Junior Livestock Auction!
Of the thousands of junior market animals that compete at the National Western Stock Show each year, only 96 of the very best qualify for the exciting Auction of Junior Livestock Champions. The auction is the final marketplace for the ribbon-winning steers, lambs, hogs, and goats that were raised by junior exhibitors, 4-H and FFA youngsters ranging in age from 9 to 18. The auction of Grand Champion and Reserve Grand Champion animals is televised live on Denver’s 9NEWS, and winning bids have reached as high as $210,000!
The Auction of Junior Livestock Champions continues to encourage today’s youth to seek a future in agriculture, and to further their education. A majority of the winning bid price goes directly to the Junior Exhibitor, and 10% of each bid price is donated to support the National Western Scholarship Trust.
Records Shattered – Celebrating the Bright Future of Agriculture at the 2025 Auction of Junior Livestock Champions
A sold-out crowd filled the auction arena for the 2025 Auction of Junior Livestock Champions, presented by BOK Financial. This year’s Grand and Reserve Grand Champions highlighted the promising future of the livestock industry, further solidifying the event as a cornerstone of agricultural excellence.
Emotion ran high as the bidding for the 2025 Grand Champion Steer soared to a record-breaking $210,000, leaving the crowd visibly moved. This surpassed the previous record set in 2023 when the Grand Champion Steer drew $200,000. Five out of the top eight animals set records, including the Reserve Grand Champion Steer selling for an impressive $125,000, topping the former record of $100,000.
Proceeds from the Auction of Junior Livestock Champions go towards the National Western Scholarship Trust.
Get Involved Today!
Outstanding Supporters
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Dilley Printing
OXY
SSA Group
US Foods
2026 Event Info
The auction kicks off with a Bidders’ Social where guests enjoy drinks and hors d’oeuvres, while visiting with business colleagues, junior exhibitors, and scholarship recipients. Guests will then move into the CoBank Auction Arena for the live broadcast and exhilarating auction!
Date & Time
Friday, January 23, 2026
CoBank Auction Arena
4:30 pm: Bidders’ Social
6:30 pm: Auction & Live Broadcast
*You must have an invitation to attend!
2025 Champions + Buyers
The 119th National Western tips its hat to the Champions & Buyers from the Auction of Junior Livestock Champions
Grand Champion Steer
Exhibitor:Â Madilyn Norvell of Turtle, OK
Buyer:Â Hutchison Western
Winning Bid:Â $210,000
Grand Champion Hog
Exhibitor:Â Alice Hawk of Muncie, IN
Buyer:Â OXY
Winning Bid:Â $85,000
Grand Champion Lamb
Exhibitor:Â Clay Randall of Canute, OK
Buyer:Â TKM Foundation, Audra & Sean McNicholas
Winning Bid:Â $52,500
Grand Champion Goat
Exhibitor:Â Sayde Allen of Elk City, OK
Buyer:Â Babson Farms
Winning Bid:Â $45,000
Reserve Grand Champion Steer
Exhibitor:Â Rylee Anderson of Chillicothe, MO
Buyer:Â Denver Metro Chamber of CommerceÂ
Winning Bid:Â $55,000
Reserve Grand Champion Lamb
Exhibitor:Â Brayden Bowers of Belmont, WI
Buyer:Â APC Resources
Winning Bid:Â $42,000
Reserve Grand Champion Hog
Exhibitor:Â Rylee Anderson of Chillicothe, MO
Buyer:Â Denver Metro Chamber of CommerceÂ
Winning Bid:Â $55,000
Reserve Grand Champion Goat
Exhibitor:Â Madden Wise of Brownwood, TX
Buyer:Â Wagner Equipment Co.
Winning Bid:Â $22,500
Become a Bidder
Some animals sell for tens of thousands, but for just a few thousand, you or your company can help a junior exhibitor and support the National Western Scholarship Trust.
Average Winning Bids:
$8200 Beef
$4500 Hog
$4500 Lamb
$3800 Goat
Winning Bidder Benefits:
Publicity Name Listed in Collateral:
- Full-Page advertisement in The Denver Post
- 50,000 Guest Guides distributed at Stock Show
- 500 Livestock Premium Books
- 3,000 Junior Auction Brochures distributed August-January prior to the Auction
- 1,500 Junior Auction Catalogs distributed the night of the Auction
- 650 Hide Party Invitations distributed the fall prior to the auction
Other Benefits:
- Buyer-Badge that provides all day grounds admission for the following Stock Show season
- Parking Pass for the remainder of the current Stock Show season
- Laminated, commemorative calendar with a picture of you and your junior exhibitor
- Invitation to the fall Hide Party
- Knowing that a portion of each winning bid supports the National Western Scholarship Trust which helps youth and education in agriculture!
Top 8 Benefits:
- Tickets & Hitch Ride at the rodeo
- Commemorative Belt Buckle
- Custom Banner & Ribbon
- 2 Buyer Badges & 2 Elite Parking Passes for the next National Western Stock Show
- Special acknowledgement at the Hide Party
Join a Combine
Become part of the Auction of Junior Livestock Champions by pooling your money with other combine members. Combine members receive invitations to the Bidders’ Social in January and the Hide Party in the Fall.
Patron – $1000 minimum donation
These funds are used to support the overall Auction and the junior exhibitors whose animals bring less than the average price of their species. Receive a Patron Badge for grounds admission throughout the entire 16 days of the 2027 National Western Stock Show. Patrons are recognized in The Denver Post after the Auction.
Denver Metro Chamber of Commerce Goat Ropers – $400 per participant/ $1500 per team of 4
This is an event held on the 1st Tuesday of the National Western Stock Show in the Stadium Arena. Teams participate in games like Cow Chip Toss, Calf Roping, Stick Horse Racing, Steer Roping, and more! The money is pooled into a fund that the President of the Denver Metro Chamber of Commerce uses to bid on an animal at the Auction. Goat Roping teams are recognized in The Denver Post after the Auction.
Growing Minds (4-H/FFA) Combine – $300 minimum donation
This combine supports youth in agriculture. A portion of the proceeds will go back to the 4-H and FFA organizations.
Sirloin Society Combine – $400 minimum donation
Lady Lamb Combine – $300 minimum donation
Ham Hock Combine – $300 minimum donation
Three Ways to Join a Combine
- Email the Events Manager at [email protected]
- Click Here to donate online
- Complete this form and submit via mail, or email
How the Auction Works
This event is by invitation only, and there are only two ways to be invited!
BECOME A BUYER:Â Sign up with the Events Manager via email ([email protected]), and they will send you a bidder number and an invitation for two.
JOIN A COMBINE:Â Submit the minimum donation amount to one of our many combines, and an invitation will be sent to you.
On the last Friday of the Stock Show, the Junior Auction begins with cocktails and hors d’oeuvres at 4:30 pm.
The Auction begins at 6:30 pm in the CoBank Auction Arena. Auction catalogs are handed out at the door with the sale order, so bidders can determine what animals they’d like to bid on.
John Korrey, a world-renowned auctioneer, and 5 ringmen will be placed throughout the arena taking bids. Hold your bid card up high when the animal you choose to bid on is on the auction block. If you won the bid, your name will be called by the Auctioneer and the Announcer. Scholarship students will assist with the paperwork, and all bidders must pay that night or within 72 hours of the sale. We accept cash, checks, or any major credit card. All bidders also have the opportunity to take a picture with the animal purchased and the Junior Exhibitor.
Winning Bidders have two purchase options:
Option A:Â Scholarship Winning Bidder pays the entire amount as accepted by the auctioneer, which includes the buy-back amount. The buy-back amount is donated to the National Western Scholarship Trust.
EXAMPLE:
Your Bid = $2000
Buy-Back = $1000
You Pay =$2000
*The packer pays for the buy-back price and this money goes into the Scholarship Trust
Option B:Â Buy-Back Winning Bidder pays the difference between the bid and the buy-back price.
EXAMPLE:
Your Bid = $2000
Buy-Back = $500
You Pay =$1500
*Buy-Back is the pre-determined, fair market value that the meatpacker pays for animal
Committee
Bruce Wagner, Chairman
Bob Heykoop, Vice Chairman
Jo Adams
Paul Andrews
Randy Blach
Jim Cage
Rita Ann Carey
Justin Cumming
Merial Currier
Lee Dailey
John DellaSalle
Bret Fox
Ces Grant
Dave Haertel
Mike Harry
Steve Holdren
Jennifer Holt
Martin Hummel
Blake Hutchison
John Korrey
Anne Leonard
Rodd Merchant
Joesph O’Dea
Beth Ann Parsons
Bronwyn Pepple
Colette Ratcliff Grimshaw
Tom Romer
Dave Sogge
John Stahley
Don Thorn
Travis Vallin
Matt Wold
Shawn Wotowey
