Denver, CO — It was a packed house for the 2026 Auction of Junior Livestock Champions, presented by Farm Credit in the new CoBank Auction Arena inside the Sue Anschutz-Rodgers Livestock Center. The standing room only crowd drove bidders to set five new records across the top 8 animals, including the Grand Champion Market Steer, topping out at $320,000.
The top 8 champion animals collectively sold for a new record of $822,500, besting the old record by $185,000. Buyers gathered to show their tremendous support of youth exhibitors, the future leaders of agriculture. The private event aired live on 9NEWS and 9news.com, highlighting the top junior market animals from this year’s National Western Stock Show.
Each year, thousands of junior market animals compete with only 108 advancing to this year’s auction, as the highest-placing entries. The auction is the final sale for these champions, with proceeds directly benefit the junior exhibitors. A majority of each winning bid goes to the young exhibitor, who raised the animal, while 10% of each sale supports the National Western Scholarship Trust, which helps fund education in agriculture and related fields.
As a part of the International Year of the Woman Farmer, women across the state are being recognized for shaping the future of agricutlure.
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As the strike at a JBS facility in Colorado continues, the National Right to Work Foundation is encouraging some employees to consider returning to work. The group says not all workers on strike may want to participate and urges those who choose to cross the picket line to resign from their union memberships.
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Governor Jim Pillen joined us to share the latest on the Nebraska wildfires, discuss relief efforts, and outline considerations for producers navigating the ongoing situation.
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APHIS Veterinary Medical Officer Dr. Chelsey Shiveley discusses USDA’s biosecurity resources available to poultry producers ahead of spring migration, increasing the risk of Highly Pathogenic Avian Influenza (HPAI) threatens commercial flocks.
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