Cameron ’ s steer was named the Grand Champion out of more than 1,700 competitors at the 2018 Houston Livestock Show and Rodeo .
AHS Junior Shows Houston Grand Champion Steer
If you need proof that long hours and dedication pay off , look no farther than Cameron Conkle . The Allen High School junior raised the 2018 Houston Livestock Show and Rodeo grand champion steer and saw it auction for $ 410,000 .
According to Cameron , the care and feeding of a champion means working six to seven hours a day , seven days a week .
“ I have to be up in the morning before school and I head right back to the barn after school ( to take care of his animals ),” Cameron said .
The long hours are worth it , though . Cameron collected $ 85,000 of the prize money . Under show rules , the remainder of the prize is distributed to local scholarships .
Cameron began showing pigs during his freshman year as a member of the AHS FFA Chapter . His Ag teacher , Stacy Shertz , encouraged him to expand his horizons and talked him into showing steers . After placing well in area and regional shows , he set his sights on the Houston event for his junior-year competition .
His perseverance paid off in March when he and his Charolaise steer , Loki , were judged the best of more than 1,700 other contestants during the final show in Houston ’ s NRG Stadium . The key to his success competing at that level was setting a goal , he said .
“ Last year I decided that I wanted to win the Houston show and that ’ s what I worked for ,” Cameron said .
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Cameron ’ s not planning on reducing his work load anytime soon . He raised three other steers in 2017 besides Loki and is planning to raise six more for the upcoming 2018 show season .
“ It can be difficult . It means not being able to do a lot of things other kids your age are doing ,” he said .
However , he said the outcome is worth the effort and $ 85,000 for college is the proof . What ’ s his advice for becoming a winner ?
“ Never be afraid to work hard . That ’ s the only way to win .”
Cameron ’ s steer , named Loki , was auctioned off for $ 410,000 following the Livestock Show .
“ Never be afraid to work hard . That ’ s the only way to win .”