Sorry, ffamom. Did not mean you. I was writing this to TheBulllady (the post just prior to my first post).
There are Brahman breeders that will sell you a good animal at a reasonable rate. They may not be an overall Champion but they will be competitive. Call some of the smaller breeders that advertise in the Brahman Journal. I will even tell you, the larger breeders will also provide you with a variety of price ranges. Amazingly enough, these people do not put the pressure on to fell like you have got to buy the most expensive. They give you the assortment and let you decide what is within your budget.
The price range can be amazing. You are not likely to find a competitive one for less than $2,500. You can find some at $1,500 but they are not as likely to be competitive. I have found that $3,500-$5,000 is a range that good ones can be bought at. Some of the best will run $5,000-$10,000. If you have someone with a good eye, buy the youngest that you can that way you get two full years of junior showing (three years in the open shows). We have borrowed money from the bank to buy some of the better ones, but it has been worth it in helping with genetics for the future. If you buy a young heifer, it makes the amount you spend easier to divide over two years. If she is good you do not have to buy one the next year. What I have come to figure is that the amount of time my kids have spent with their animals has kept them out of trouble. This amount is typically less than what it would take getting them out of trouble---idle time makes for idle minds and behavior. Just my phylosophy.
In addition to buying the animal there is also the benefit of your junior belonging to one of the best junior organizations. At state and national shows they have other contests where the kids can shine to include public speaking, sales talk, quiz bowls, herdsman quizes, etc. The kids have lots of fun. If you have ever seen the awards that are given out at the major shows in Texas from a group called the Brahma Mamas--they are also great. Overall, the Brahman people are competitors but they are all devoted to the youth.