The first steer of the Fort Worth Stock Show & Rodeo had everyone up on their feet clapping for a recording-breaking bid. Saturday morning a Hereford broke the record with a $300,000 bid — the largest since 2017. It was fitting that the weekend before Valentine’s day the Grand Champion steer, Cupid Shuffle, would steal the show.
Cupid Shuffle is the first Hereford champion since 1982. The $300,000 bid easily surpassed the previous record bid in 2017 of $240,000 thanks to the determination of Gary Buchholz. “We wanted to set a record, because it’s been a long time since a Hereford’s done it. We made up our minds last night we were going home with that steer,” said Gary Buchholz. Gary and his wife, Kathy Knox Buchholz, owns GKB Cattle and submitted the winning bid on Saturday.
It’s a record! $300,000 for the Grand Champion! The first Hereford champion since 1982 smashes the old record by $40,000! pic.twitter.com/hngM62CX03
— Fort Worth Stock Show Syndicate (@FWSyndicate) February 8, 2020
Cupid Shuffle’s handler, Meadow FFA member Ryder Day, said, “This is pretty special and amazing that this happened. I am very surprised.”
Ryder gets to keep every penny of the winning bid. Exactly how does a twelve-year-old plan on spending his big earnings? Responsibly of course. “After we pay for college, me and my brother, we’ll help build our ranch up. Just like my parents and my grandparents and their parents before them,” Ryder announced.
It was a big day for the Hereford community. The Reserve Champion Steer, Dave, was another Hereford shown by Holly Thomas. Thomas is a seventeen-year- old Gatesville FFA member. That Hereford brought in a whopping $200,000 from Hillwood Properties.
