Writer: Blair Fannin, 979-845-2259, [email protected]

COLLEGE STATION – Right out of the chute, the Daniel family already has garnered far more success starting out in show cattle events than they initially expected.

Dan Daniel, Texas A&M University Class of ‘99 and owner of D&D Moving and Storage in College Station, said he and his wife, Lindy, could hardly contain the excitement after his daughter, Payton Williams, and her steer, Big Tex, recently won 2016 Reserve American Breed Champion at the State Fair of Texas in Dallas. Payton, a sophomore at College Station High School, received $8,700 in prize money. Big Texas was purchased from Jake and Jaime Franke of Franke Cattle in Cisco, Texas.

“This was our first major show,” Daniel said. “It was a huge accomplishment. We were all just extremely excited watching her walk through the ring. Just all of the people, the magnitude of the event, the excitement…it was really something.”

Payton Williams, and her steer, Big Tex, recently won 2016 Reserve American Breed Champion at the State Fair of Texas in Dallas.
Payton Williams, and her steer, Big Tex, recently won 2016 Reserve American Breed Champion at the State Fair of Texas in Dallas. Also pictured are parents Dan and Lindy Daniel. (Photo courtesy State Fair of Texas)

Texas A&M livestock judging team members Dylan Davis and Justin Vehige have been assisting the Daniel since the spring. The steer was raised at the Crow’s Nest Ranch in College Station, owned by Texas A&M chemistry professors John Gladysz and Janet Bluemel.

Daniel, who played football at A&M Consolidated and at Texas A&M for former coach R.C. Slocum, majored in agricultural economics. An injury shortened his career after two years and he he went on to graduate from A&M and began his moving business.

“The way we got started showing was initially, I had been buying crossbred momma cows,” he said. “Then my mother passed away from alzheimer’s in March, and we were looking through some old photographs.

“My sister used to show cattle and we went all over the place. (Payton) saw those old pictures and the good memories of going to those shows. The next thing you know she’s going out to feed the cows with me. She said one day ‘let’s show that one.’ Next thing you know we go from having one in the barn to having five.”

Daniel said that has led to Payton winning nine buckles in five shows.

“We’ve told her you are not always going to win, that you will sometimes be on the other end of the stick and need to be humble,” he said.

“This has really became a family event that has allowed more family time with my father, Richard “Dickey” Daniel (Class of 87 and animal science major) which we couldn’t do it without his help as well!”

Daniel said their next show competition will be the Fort Worth Stock Show on Feb. 1.

Share or print this post: