On behalf of Iowa’s beef farmers, the staff of the Iowa Beef Industry Council and Iowa Cattlemen’s Association recently presented a check from the 35th annual Iowa Governor’s Charity Steer Show to the Ronald McDonald House Charities of Iowa in Des Moines. This year’s show at the 2017 Iowa State Fair featured the highest-selling auction, including breaking the cumulative $3 million mark.

The check this year was a little over $88,300. The money raised every year is split and donated to the three Ronald McDonald House Charities of Iowa in Des Moines, Iowa City and Sioux City. All of the houses are near hospitals and provide a “home away from home” for families of seriously ill children.

Over 44,237 families served
The charity steer show started in 1983 as IBIC and ICA partnered with then Gov. Terry Branstad to organize and sponsor the event. At the governor's request, the designated charity for the first-time event was the Ronald McDonald Houses of Iowa.

Since its inception in 1983, the Governor’s Charity Steer Show has generated over $3.2 million (equivalent to over 320,000 nights stays) in support of Iowa’s Ronald McDonald House Charity chapters. During that same time, over 44,237 Iowa families have been served. Additionally, another 8,000 families coming from all 50 states and more than 60 foreign countries have used the three Iowa facilities. These facilities house the family members of seriously ill children being treated in area hospitals.

“The Governor’s Charity Steer Show highlights the best of the beef community where our Iowa beef farmers care about the families and local communities where they live,” says Doug Bear, director of industry relations for IBIC. “During the 35 years of this event, we have impacted families from all of Iowa’s 99 counties, all 50 states, and even other countries to serve families in their time of greatest need.”

This past summer the Ronald McDonald House of Des Moines went through a complete transformation as Hubbell Homes rebuilt the entire house within 11 days with the help of a significant number of volunteers. The new house has 18 rooms, each with at least two queen beds, and two of the rooms have space to sleep six people comfortably.

Many make fundraiser a success
“It was really neat to see the new Ronald McDonald House in Des Moines. It now can serve a larger number of families each night, which allows us to reach a greater number of families on a daily and yearly basis,” says Casey Allison, eastern Iowa membership coordinator for ICA and co-coordinator of the steer show.

The Governor’s Charity Steer Show is made possible every year by the support and involvement of the steer show buyers, sponsors, youth, community members, and IBIC and ICA volunteer producer leaders. The next event will take be Aug. 11 at 4 p.m. in the Pioneer Livestock Pavilion at the Iowa State Fair. For additional information about the Governor’s Charity Steer Show, contact Doug Bear at the Iowa Beef Industry Council at [email protected].

Source: Iowa Cattlemen’s Association