Weather smiled on record Stock Show

Having been around for 119 years, the Fort Worth Stock Show and Rodeo has certainly lived up to its slogan, “This thing is legendary.”

The annual event, which ended Saturday, was bigger than ever this year, breaking records in several categories, including the total amount paid to junior livestock exhibitors — $3,709,361.

No doubt the unseasonably warm weather helped boost the overall attendance to a record-breaking level of 1,248,500, beating by 82,500 the previous high mark set in 2012.

Also setting a record was the price paid for the grand champion steer, Bob Marley, a 1,344-pound European crossbred shown by Madilyn Priesmeyer, 17, of Round Rock. The $240,000 paid by first-time bidder Rxpress Compounding Pharmacy was $40,000 more than last year’s price and $10,000 more than the 2012 record.

Notable, too, was the Women Steering Business group, organized to buy animals from girls, which paid $150,000 for the reserve grand champion steer, J.Z., owned by Myka Blissard of Big Spring.

It seems the only thing missing was the traditional (and legendary) “Stock Show weather,” something no one really missed.

This story was originally published February 9, 2015 at 5:20 PM with the headline "Weather smiled on record Stock Show."