Burnham-On-Sea livestock farmer Steve Stamp is celebrating after claiming the Pedigree Champion title at the English Winter Fair.
Limousin steer Nico caught the eye in front of a packed crowd at the Staffordshire Showground.
Steve shares farms with father-in-law Morris Wall along with wife Rachel and sons Archie and Harry.
Together, they manage about 300 acres with 60 suckler cows and 100 ewes at Bowbridge Farm at Mark, near Burnham-On-Sea.
They have a pedigree herd of Aberdeen Angus and Ruby Red Devon cattle but Steve says he “took a chance” with the 650kg Limousin after no-one bid for him at a starlight sale at Sedgemoor Market in March.
Steve told Burnham-On-Sea.com: “He came in the ring and was wild but I thought I’d give him a go and took a chance.”
“Two people came up to me at the Winter Fair who remembered the sale and said they couldn’t believe how he turned out.”
“Our friend Paul Walker said he was show-worthy and groomed him and led him in the ring so he has to take a lot of credit.”
“We’re all over the moon. We have never even had a prize at the Winter Fair before and have probably been there five times in the past 10 years.”
Nico, who was born in May 2017, sold for £1,900 (£2.92/kg) at an end-of-show auction on Sunday afternoon, a tidy profit after being purchased for £1,200.
“We have a couple of local fat stock shows left to attend this year such as Frome in December,” Steve added.
“Next year we might go to the Winter Fair with some of home-bred animals and perhaps a calf I bought from this year’s show.”
