Governor’s Charity Steer Show Sets New Record

Records were broken at the 33rd annual Governor’s Charity Steer Show, which raised $224,584 for the Ronald McDonald House Charities of Iowa. This year’s event featured the second-highest selling auction, including the highest selling steer to date at $31,000. The money raised will benefit the Ronald McDonald Houses of Des Moines, Iowa City, and Sioux City. All of the houses are located near hospitals and provide a “home away from home” for families of seriously ill children. The Iowa Beef Industry Council and the Iowa Cattlemen’s Association sponsor the annual steer show and auction, hosted by Governor Terry Branstad on August 15, 2015 in the Pioneer Livestock Pavilion at the Iowa State Fair.

Since its inception in 1983, the Governor’s Charity Steer Show has raised over $2.7 million for the Ronald McDonald Houses of Iowa. The event included 25 steers, the Iowa youth that raised them, and celebrity showpersons, including Governor Terry Branstad, who competed for the title of “Judge’s Choice.”

The official steer show judges for this year’s show were Beth Doran, ISU Extension & Outreach Beef Field Specialist of Sioux Center and Gene Doran, cattle breeder from Beaver. The judges selected the steer “Kibbie50,” shown by Dr. Rob Denson, President of Des Moines Area Community College (DMACC) for overall grand champion honors. The steer was named in honor of DMACC’s 50th anniversary and Senator Jack Kibbie, who wrote the legislation to establish community colleges. DMACC sponsored the steer raised by Dan Eslick of Dayton. James Oil Company, Eslick Family Farms, DMACC and DMACC Agribusinesses purchased the steer at the auction for $31,000, setting a new all-time record for an individual steer during the Governor’s Charity Steer Show Auction. This year’s new individual steer record surpassed the previously 2012 record held by Linda Juckette, who purchased the steer sponsored by the Iowa Bankers Association in memory of Mark Pearson for $29,500.

The steer shown by Dr. Steven Leath, President of Iowa State University, was selected by the crowd for the title of “People’s Choice.” The steer, “Big Mac,” was sponsored by the McDonald’s Restaurants of Mid-Iowa and purchased by Curran Cattle Co. for $5,250. Ty Schneider of Lacona raised the steer.

United States Senator Joni Ernst earned the Showmanship Award from Brad Hook, who served as the event’s Showmanship Judge. Ernst’s steer, “Elvis,” was sponsored by the Iowa Hereford Breeders Association. The steer was raised by Jarrett Orman of Bouton and purchased by Iowa Hereford Breeders Association and Mogler Farms for $6,000.

Emcees for the show were farm broadcaster Bob Quinn, WHO Radio, and Michelle Rook, WNAX Radio. A special guest appearance from Ronald McDonald kept the show lively. The auctioneer for the auction was Phil Schooley from Bloomfield Livestock. Catching bids alongside Schooley were Mike Sorensen, Austin Brandt, and Ross Butler of Livestock Plus, Tom Rooney of The Midwest Marketer, and Jason Lekin of Tama Livestock Auction.

Iowa Cattleman Association