A young kid from Grapevine won a national award for building a replica of the Fort Worth Stockyards with Legos.
William Hicks, who is just 9 years old, was named the 2024 North American Mini Master Model Builder after beating out a dozen competitors from across the United States and Canada.
Hicks triumphed in the final round of this competition by recreating the iconic Fort Worth Stockyards, using over 6,000 pieces, in response to the required theme of hometown inspiration.
The build took over 45 hours and included details like the famous cattle drive, a saloon, a working oil derrick, and more.
“I built the Fort Worth Stockyards, and I’m very proud of my movement,” Hicks told Fox 4 KDFW. “I have a horse that veers up and down and a working oil derrick and a mini figure that runs away.”
To make it into the finals, Hicks had to pass through the regionals by competing with other young builders from across Dallas-Fort Worth back in May.
North Texans have proven formidable Lego builders, with a 9-year-old from North Richland Hills being named a finalist in last year’s competition. Bennett Hills built the Reunion Tower of Dallas, the Stockyards, and construction cranes in order to capture the region’s incredible growth in recent years. However, he was ultimately beaten by 10-year-old Elijah Estevez of New York, who built a replica of Coney Island.
Just like Estevez, Hicks was presented with a trophy and a shower of both confetti and Legos at LEGOLAND Discovery Center Dallas/Fort Worth in Grapevine Mills Mall in celebration of his feat.
“[Lego is] so fun,” Hicks told WFAA. “There’s so many different things you can do with it, ways to make your builds stronger, [and] to learn. It’s definitely my favorite toy.”