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Iowa State Fair Charity Steer Show sets new recordIowa State Fair Charity Steer Show sets new record

Governor's Charity Steer Show at 2016 Iowa State Fair raises over $244,000; sets new sale and steer record.

August 16, 2016

4 Min Read

Records were broken at the 34th annual Governor’s Charity Steer Show, which raised over $244,000 for the Ronald McDonald House Charities of Iowa. This year’s event, held Saturday, August 13 at the 2016 Iowa State Fair, featured the highest selling auction, including the highest selling steer to date which sold for $35,000.

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The money raised by this annual event benefits 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. This year’s show was hosted by Gov. Terry Branstad in the Pioneer Livestock Pavilion at the Iowa State Fair in Des Moines.

Event included 25 steers and the youth who raised them
Since its inception in 1983, the Governor’s Charity Steer Show has raised over $2.9 million for the Ronald McDonald Houses of Iowa. The event included 25 steers, the Iowa youth that raised them, and celebrity show persons, including Gov. Terry Branstad, who competed for the title of “Judge’s Choice.”

The official steer show judge for this year’s show was Brent Henningsen from Ames, Iowa. The judge selected the steer “Darb,” shown by Dr. Steven Leath, president of Iowa State University (ISU) for overall grand champion honors. District 20 Cattlemen’s Association sponsored the steer and Friends & Family of District 20 Cattlemen's Association purchased the steer for $18,000. The steer was raised by Josh Darbyshire of Morning Sun. The steer was named in honor of Josh’s late grandfather.

Highest selling steer sold for a record-breaking $35,000
A new all-time record for an individual steer was purchased by Jim & Kathy Stalzer, Don & Judy Stalzer, Beck’s Hybrids and Family & Friends of the Stalzer Family for $35,000. The steer, Escalate, was raised by Jacob Stalzer of Haverhill. This year’s new individual steer record surpassed last year’s record held by James Oil Company, Eslick Family Farms, DMACC and DMACC Agribusinesses, who purchased the steer sponsored by DMACC for $31,000.

The steer shown by Jim Keller, Welcome Home Soldier Memorial President, was selected by the crowd for the title of “People’s Choice” winner.  The steer, “Fallen Soldier,” was sponsored by the Monroe County Cattlemen and Local Supporters and purchased by James Oil Company and James Simmentals for $11,000 with additional contributions by the Monroe County Cattlemen and local supporters for $7,500.  Nathan Crall of Albia raised the steer.

Iowa State Fair Charity Steer Show sets new record


Grand Champion Steer #24: (Left to right) Jacob Darbyshire, Steve Kisling, Tom and Shelia Darbyshire, ISU President Steven Leath, Brent Henningsen (Judge), Cal DeWitt, Jordan Steffener, Dillon Brock, Ryan Mesch, Scott Heater, and steer owner Josh Darbyshire.

University of Northern Iowa’s director of athletics, David Harris, earned the Showmanship Award from Eric Hanson of KCCI 8, who served as the event’s Showmanship Judge. Harris’s steer, “Bubbles,” was sponsored by the Southern Iowa Merchants. The steer was raised by Cole Spoelstra of New Sharon and purchased by J & D McDonalds—David Roberts and Barsema Hurley Ltd for $7,000.

An effort by the agricultural community to give back to Iowa
Emcees for the show were farm broadcaster Bob Quinn of WHO Radio, and Michelle Rook, WNAX Radio. A special guest appearance from Ronald McDonald kept the show lively. The auctioneers for the auction were Phil Schooley from Bloomfield, Russel Sleep from Bedford, and Jared Miller from Leon. Catching bids alongside the auctioneers were Mike Sorensen, Austin Brandt and Ross Butler of Livestock Plus, Tom Rooney of The Midwest Marketer, and Jason Lekin of Tama Livestock Auction.

For a list of the steers entered in this year’s Iowa Governor’s Charity Steer Show and Auction, and the 25 youth who raised them, along with the sponsors, celebrity show persons and buyers, visit iabeef.org/news-events/governors-steer-show. The Iowa Beef Industry Council says “Thank You” to all steer owners, sponsors, celebrity show persons and buyers who participated in this year’s record-breaking event.

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