Everything is bigger in Texas – or so they say.
It’s true that the great state of Texas boasts everything from big books to huge belt buckles.
On National Texas Day today, we’re reflecting on some of our biggest records, proving that everything in Texas is extra.
Longest horn spread on a bull living
Cowboy Tuff Chex has the longest horn spread on a bull living, with his enormous longhorns measuring 262.5 cm (8.6 feet in length).
The average longhorn’s spread usually measures about four feet, but Chex’s horns are double that!
Although Chex was bred and raised in Overbrook, Oklahoma, USA, by Bob Loomis, he was later purchased by Richard and Jeanne Filip from Fayetteville, Texas, in 2017.
After Chex was acquired at an auction at Hudson Valentine Longhorn Auctions in Fort Worth, Texas, ranchers Richard and Jeanne Filip had to purchase the widest possible cattle trailer they could in order to transport their prized bull.
Chex’s long horns make him well-known among the Longhorn community. In fact, his owners receive many requests to breed him so that he will pass down his valued horns.
Many people also request to see Cowboy Tuff Chex on the Filip’s ranch, eager to see his Guinness World Records title-holding longhorns for themselves.
Texas Longhorns are valued depending on their horn length, which are measured in three ways: tip to tip measurement, total horn, and the composite of their horns.
Cowboy Tuff Chex’s extra-long horns bring his value up to $500,000.
Today, Chex lives on the Filip’s ranch and spends his days grazing in green pastures or relaxing by nearby ponds.
Largest book published
A Texas nonprofit, a publishing house, and a museum worked together to achieve a supersized record title.
Together with The Bryan Museum and Ordinary People Change the World, the iWRITE Literacy Organization broke the record for the largest book published.
The huge book, titled I Am Texas, measures an astounding 7 feet tall and 11 feet wide (2.1 metres tall and 3.3 metres wide) and weighs 496 pounds (224.9 kg).
The record-breaking book is made up of writing and artwork from 1,000 Texas students ranging from third to 12th grades and has smaller versions available.
The book also contains 400 pages and had to be printed on a large-format UV printer.
“They don’t make book boards to accommodate a book that large,” said iWRITE founder and board chair, Melissa Williams Murphy.
“We used the largest standard book board we could find. It had to be pieced together in overlapping layers to fit the size we needed.”
In fact, finding paper wide enough and a printer big enough to print a cover spread over 11 feet (3.3 metres) wide, was a tough job.
For this reason, many of the book-making tasks that are usually done at a printing company had to be performed by hand.
Binding the book, gluing the end sheets, and hand-stitching the pages together were also difficult endeavours.
Just lifting the book and flipping it over during the creation process took six people!
The book, which took eight months to create, is currently making its rounds throughout the grand state of Texas.
Largest belt buckle
With their 50th anniversary approaching in 2023, Montana Silversmiths wanted to celebrate in a big and unique way.
The team buckled down to create the world’s largest belt buckle, measuring 3.20 m x 4.43 m (10 ft 6 in x 14 ft 6.4 in).
The belt buckle, which took six months to create, is an exact to-scale replica of an existing belt buckle available for sale.
A popular choice for customers, it is adorned with a large cowboy silhouette, golden flowers, silver stars, and the company’s signature silver filigree.
The oversized Big Horn buckle, which weighs over a thousand pounds, had to be built and transported in four separate sections.
A special stand and large crates were created to transport each quadrant and place it on display in Montana Silversmiths’ Dallas showroom.
Even the ducts for the air vents in the showroom were rerouted to make enough room for the belt buckle's height!
The buckle also had to be transported through multiple doors and elevators.
After creating and transporting four 250-pound sections of the colossal buckle and installing special stands to hold it upright, it made its grand appearance during the 100th anniversary of the Western and English Sales Association Market.
Largest collection of videogames
Avid video game enthusiast Antonio Romero Monteiro has taken his videogame collection to another level.
On 19 December 2021, he wasn’t just recognized for the largest collection of videogames overall, but for four other titles as well:
- Largest collection of Xbox items
- Largest collection of Sega items
- Largest collection of Nintendo items
- Largest collection of PlayStation items
Antonio’s mind-blowing collection totals 24,268 games and has an estimated worth of about $2.1 million.
Antonio started collecting videogames in 1987 at the age of 10 years old and began with games from his own personal collection.
Now, he has owned almost every videogame item you’ve ever heard of.
Although his Sega Genesis was the first to claim a spot in Antonio’s videogame collection, he gradually transitioned to collecting games and accessories for other consoles as well.
Antonio doesn’t just collect videogames for entertainment but for personal reasons too.
"I see videogames as a form of art, where creativity and storytelling transcend to limitless possibilities. Each generation of videogame systems gives further potential to realize creativity and share boundless stories, challenges, and experiences," he said.
"Some of my most precious memories include videogames and their experiences with family and friends."
Using a dual inventory system, Antonio tracks and manages his entire collection.
Antonio has also managed to build an organizational structure for arranging and displaying his games and has organized his collection by system and alphabetically.
He enjoys seeing the look of amazement on the faces of those who walk into his videogame collection room.
Next, Antonio’s goal is to achieve a complete North American collection for all major videogame platforms - an objective he is just 1,700 games short of.
Longest legs
Maci Currin from Cedar Park, Texas, strutted into Guinness World Records after being confirmed as having the world’s longest legs (female) and the longest legs on a teenager.
With legs that stretch almost a metre and a half in length, Maci’s left leg measures 135.267 cm (53.255 in), while her right leg measures 134.3 cm (52.874 in).
Standing at 6 ft 10 in tall, Maci’s legs make up 60% of her total height!
However, her record-breaking attribute also comes with its challenges.
"I was never bullied for my legs... I was bullied because I was taller than everyone," Maci shared.
"I hope that tall women can see that height is a gift and that you shouldn't be ashamed that you're tall - you should really embrace it.”
Although it’s hard for her to fit through doorways, get into cars, or fit just right into her clothes, Maci’s long legs also come with some advantages, such as being able to play on her high school’s volleyball team.
In the future, Maci hopes to use her record-breaking legs to achieve the record title for the world’s tallest professional model.
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