The Fort Worth Stock Show & Rodeo picked its grand champion on Friday.
The more than 1,400 cattle that entered show competitions were narrowed down to six champions with a shot at the grand title.
"This has been our lifelong goal, and to do it with one that we raised by ourselves, it makes it even better -- it just adds to the excitement," winner 12-year-old Stock Martin said.
Martin, of Hereford, was excited and a bit shocked, too, taking a deep breath in the moments after being declared the winner.
"I was at a loss of words for it," he said. "It's just the most exciting feeling that you'll ever feel in your life."
Stock's 7-month-old European Cross steer, who is aptly named "Lunchbox," was along for the ride.
Lunchbox stood out to judge Dr. Mark Johnson, who said the steer was an example of what cattle bred to eat should look like.
Lunchbox was born a month premature but, even then, the steer always looked good, Martin said.
"We knew we had a good one when he was born, so me and Dad thought, 'Well, everybody at the show might as well pack their lunch, because we've got one that'll get 'em.'"
Parents Brian and Sherri Martin said they were proud of their son but were in a bit of disbelief themselves in the minutes after the announcement.
"It's unbelievable -- pinch us," Sherri Martin said. "We still -- it's hard to believe that it's real."
Lunchbox is now headed to the auction block.
Last year's grand champion took home $230,000, but no one was willing to say how much they think this year's champ will go for on Saturday.
Whatever the dollar amount, Stock Martin already has plans for it.
"Put it back into college and then buy more steers, maybe win some more shows," he said.
It's not a bad idea, because he's already won the show of a lifetime.
"It's everything you want," he said.
Martin also won grand champion at the State Fair of Texas last fall. And last year, he won grand reserve champion with a different steer.
The auction gets under way at 9 a.m. on Saturday, the final day of the Stock Show.
