The 2018 Governor's Charity Steer Show will mark the 36th consecutive year the beef industry has raised funds to help families who use the Ronald McDonald House Charities of Iowa.

This year, the showring competition is at 4 p.m. Aug. 11 in the Pioneer Livestock Pavilion at the Iowa State Fair in Des Moines. Celebrities will lead 25 steers around the ring, vying for the championship designation, showmanship honors and the People’s Choice award.

Immediately following the competition, the steers will be sold at auction with proceeds going to Ronald McDonald House Charities of Iowa. The show ring event and the auction are open to the public.

Steers owned and raised by Iowa youth
Since the Iowa Beef Industry Council and the Iowa Cattlemen’s Association began the Governor’s Charity Steer Show in 1983, the effort has raised more than $3.2 million for the Des Moines, Iowa City and Sioux City Ronald McDonald House Charities. The houses provide a "home away from home" for families of seriously ill children being treated in area hospitals and have served nearly 45,000 families.  

Each of the 25 steers are owned by Iowa youth who have cared for the animals and participated in other shows with them. The youth prepare the animals for the show and assist a celebrity in the show ring. Sponsors reimburse the youth for the cost of the animal and choose the celebrity.

Show participants volunteer for charity
Youth participating in the 2018 Governor’s Charity Steer Show will also learn information about the beef industry and volunteer time with the Ronald McDonald House Charities in Des Moines on.
Participants in this 36th anniversary event include Gov. Kim Reynolds, who will host the show. Chuck McCullough of Allerton will serve as the official steer show judge for this year’s event, and Jennifer Carrico of Redfield has been selected to serve as the event’s showmanship judge.

Emcees are Bob Quinn and Andy Peterson of WHO/WMT Radio, and Michelle Rook of WNAX Radio. Auctioneers are Phil Schooley of Bloomfield, Will Epperly of Dunlap, Russ Sleep of Bedford and Jared Miller of Leon. Assisting the auctioneers to catch bids in the ring are Tom Rooney, Mike Sorensen, Austin Brandt and Jason Lekin.

Cattlemen's Beef Quarters new menu item
In other news from ICA, the Cattlemen’s Beef Quarters at 2018 Iowa State Fair has a new menu item: Brisket Mango Tango. “We’re excited to introduce it,” says John Mortimer, manager of Cattlemen’s Beef Quarters. “We are always looking for new ways to expand our menu for our customers.”

The Brisket Mango Tango is a tasty waffle bowl partially filled with a light coleslaw seasoned with Gramma Amber’s salad dressing. Then a generous layer of tender shredded beef brisket topped with colorful fresh mango salsa, and a splash of Gramma Amber’s dressing over the top. It is garnished with a fresh pineapple and a cornichon pickle for zest, held together with an Iowa flag.

“The mango salsa adds a refreshing, summer twist to the tender shredded brisket,” says Brooke German, director of marketing for the Iowa Beef Industry Council. “The brisket is smoked and full of flavor which really compliments the mango salsa.”

Enjoy a meal at Cattlemen’s Beef Quarters
Inspiration for this new menu item came from beefitswhatsfordinner.com. Moritmer was looking for a way to add a new, unique item to his menu that featured beef brisket. The waffle bowl brings the flavors together and makes this item easy to carry and eat on the go, he says. “We want to hear what our customers think of this new menu item.”

The Brisket Mango Tango will be available for $9 daily from 10 a.m. to 9 p.m.

The Cattlemen’s Beef Quarters has an all-beef menu including prime rib dinners, roast beef sandwiches, ribeye steak sandwiches, taco salads, one-third pound hamburgers and is the home of the original Hot Beef Sundae.

Source: ICA and IBIC