Yoakum Girl’s Steer Wins In Houston

The other day I was blogging about the large number of stock shows that occur every year about this time. It's a great way to support the youth of our communities and have some fun at the same time. These young people work really hard year round to attend and compete at their respective stock shows. One of the largest shows in the world just took place in Houston and a local girl out did herself this year.

Emily Kelley won reserve grand champion with her Charolais steer, Monster, and sold him for $250,000 March 17. The next day, she turned 16. Emily told the Victoria Advocate, "It was the most perfect sweet 16 present ever," she said with a laugh. "I couldn't have asked for a better gift."  The big-time win came as a surprise to Emily, who had competed at the Houston show since age 8. Although she'd made the sale before, she never won grand or reserve titles.  "When they chose me as reserve overall, I was shaking," she said, explaining she didn't realize at the time she was being broadcast on Reliant Stadium's massive overhead screen. "I didn't really expect it to happen."