Blaize Benson from San Angelo has raised a Simmental named Woozy.
This year, the Houston Livestock Show and Rodeo made history again. The Jr. Market Grand Champion Steer, Woozy, was auctioned off for a whopping $1 million. This impressive sum tied the record set at the rodeo in 2022.
In 2022, Don Jordan made headlines by bidding a record amount to celebrate both his and the rodeo’s 90th anniversaries. He returned in 2024, aiming to maintain his record-holding status. “This year, I aimed to keep the world record I hold. Thankfully, my fellow buyers supported me in making this dream a reality,” he shared.
Blaize Benson expressed his gratitude for the opportunity. “I feel incredibly blessed to be here. I’m thankful to God for placing me in this position,” he remarked. Chelsie Benson, Blaize’s mother, highlighted the significant impact of this achievement on her son. “He’s dedicated a lot of hard work, and we’ve been involved in this since he was 8. Success like this is rare. I believe this will be a cherished memory for him forever,” she said.
The Benson family has been participating in the rodeo since 2017, with the exception of 2020. “Watching your child achieve their dreams is truly amazing,” Chelsie Benson stated. “He’s dreamt of this since his first rodeo visit. Experiencing it through his eyes has been incredible.”
The Reserve Grand Champion Steer was sold for $650,000. Madelyn “Maddie” Shickendanz from Perryton shared her disbelief. “It all feels surreal right now. I’ve been on the sale floor before but never as a reserve grand champion. It hasn’t fully sunk in yet,” she said.
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