Youth Stock Show shows top dollar

It begins with a man speaking in tongues, recognizing the flicks of people’s wrists or the nods of one’s head.

After bewildering the crowd for minutes, it seems he’s mesmerized himself, too. Out of nowhere he snaps out of his trance, comes to and announces that a steer in the ring was just sold for $15,500.

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Such was the fate for 15-year-old Emily June Kelley’s Grand Champion steer Grenade, named so after the 2010 Bruno Mars song.

Fourteen steers and 10 lambs were auctioned at the 2012 SandHills Youth Stock Show Sale, which is the first time the auction was conducted on the same day as the Youth Stock Show.

“I’m very impressed and think it’s a great change,” Emily June’s father, John Kelley said. “Before, (when the sale was scheduled the following Saturday morning) it wasn’t as exciting. Now, there are more people, there’s more interest and there’s more energy. It’ll only get better as it goes on.”

The Kelleys came from the city of Yoakum and have been competing in the SandHills Stock Show for five years. This is the first time any of their animals has won Grand Champion.

Grenade was purchased at auction by a pledge from Sewell Ford and Campbell Ranch.

But it wasn’t an auction in the normal sense.

Though the stock show is a terminal show, meaning the animals will be sent to packers after the showing, the money that was bid on the animals came from pledges previously gathered by donators hoping to support the youth.

President of the SandHills Stock Show and Rodeo Bill Wight said pledges for the Youth Stock Show are gathered as early as in the summer.

Chuck Ellison, CEO of Ellison Fluid Calipers and owner of Ellison Ranch in Coleman Co., pledged $5,000 and bid an extra $500 to “buy” a polled steer, owned by Brianna Bugg of Odessa.

“I wanted to support a local girl,” he said. “These people usually go to show to raise money for college, so we essentially donate the money and let them send their animals to the packers themselves so that they can make more on top of that.”

Pledges for the animals ranged from $800 to $15,500.

@OAcrime