Texas teen gets big price for steer

FORT WORTH, Texas, Feb. 10 (UPI) -- A Texas teen got a big check at the annual junior livestock sale, earning $20,895 for his steer, the 278th animal shown of 283 at the sale, officials said.

Members of the Stock Show Syndicate, a group of Fort Worth-area business professionals that raises millions of dollars for the annual Sale of Champions, bought the steer from 14-year-old Wyatt Blaylock, after they learned his father died of brain cancer last year, the Fort Worth Star-Telegram reported Saturday.

"I don't know what to say," said Blaylock, from Adkins, a small town south of San Antonio.

Syndicate members got to know Blaylock last year and found out his father, Anthony Blaylock, who taught him about raising cattle, could not attend the show because of the cancer. The father died in April at the age of 36.

Gary Ray, a syndicate past chairman, told the Star-Telegram he was determined to help Wyatt when he returned to this year's Fort Worth show.

"He deserves this," Ray said.

Blaylock said he plans to use the money to help pay for his expenses at Texas A&M University.