The 49th annual Governor’s Blue Ribbon Livestock Auction raised a total of $267,000 at the 2017 Wisconsin State Fair, according to state fair officials and members of the Blue Ribbon Sale of Champions Foundation.

Bucky Badger and the University of Wisconsin-Madison Marching Band welcomed bidders and fairgoers to the Case IH Coliseum and set the tone for an exciting night on Aug. 9. The exhibitors and their champion animals joined Gov. Scott Walker on stage as the auction kicked off.

Bidding commenced with the grand champion steer (crossbred) exhibited by Lauren May of Mineral Point in Iowa County. The 1,377-pound steer sold for $50,000, with the winning bid from Meijer and Bob Lannin Racing. May and her older brother Brock have exhibited the grand champion or reserve grand champion steer at the state fair nine out of the past 10 years. Exhibitors are allowed to keep 80% of the sale price of their animal. The remaining 20% goes toward auction expenses and the Governor’s Blue Ribbon Livestock Auction Scholarship Fund.

The annual auction recognizes the outstanding accomplishments of Wisconsin’s youth exhibitors.

Winning bids
Following are the winning bids for the 2017 Governor’s Blue Ribbon Livestock Auction:

• grand champion steer (crossbred) exhibited by Lauren May of Iowa County; winning bid of $50,000 by Meijer and Bob Lannin Racing (donated to the Governor’s Blue Ribbon Livestock Auction Scholarship Fund)

• grand champion barrow (crossbred) exhibited by Kyle Vondra of Iowa County; winning bid of $15,000 by Kevin Schuele

• grand champion market lamb (Hampshire) exhibited by Brady Meudt of Walworth County; winning bid of $10,000 by Walmart (donated to Feeding America of Eastern Wisconsin)

• reserve grand champion steer (crossbred) exhibited by Tori Crisp of Racine County; winning bid of $10,000 by Wisconsin Souvenir Milkcaps

• reserve grand champion barrow (crossbred) exhibited by Calvin Marks of Jefferson County; winning bid of $11,500 by Beechwood Sales and Service

• reserve grand champion market lamb (crossbred) exhibited by Madison Russell of Lafayette County; winning bid of $6,000 by the Pork-toberfeast Syndicate: Saz’s, Leff’s Lucky Town, Bunzel’s Meat Market, Trawicki Electric, Blue Moon Tavern at the Park, Country Fresh Meats, Milwaukee Admirals, PMI, Major Goolsby’s and Melotte Meats

• champion Chianina steer exhibited by Austin Lynd of Rock County; winning bid of $10,000 by Statewide Fencing Inc. and Interstate Parking

• champion spotted barrow exhibited by Taylor Daniels of Sauk County; winning bid of $6,000 by MillerCoors (donated to Feeding America of Eastern Wisconsin)

• champion natural colored lamb exhibited by Brady Meudt of Walworth County; winning bid of $4,000 by We Energies (donated to the Governor’s Blue Ribbon Livestock Auction Scholarship Fund)

• champion Charolais steer exhibited by Claire Leahy of Lafayette County; winning bid of $9,000 by Dalton Lumber and Supply, Trembling Prairie Farms, and Alsum Farms and Produce

• champion Duroc barrow exhibited by Danny Pittz of Iowa County; winning bid of $8,000 by Coca-Cola and Kwik Trip (donated to Feeding America of Eastern Wisconsin)

• champion Suffolk lamb exhibited by Martina Schulz of Wood County; winning bid of $4,000 by T&T Tree Service

• champion Simmental steer exhibited by Reid Runkel of Racine County; winning bid of $8,000 by Wisconsin Souvenir Milkcaps

• champion Poland China barrow exhibited by Chase Cherney of Sauk County; winning bid of $6,000 by Giant Slide Inc., SkyFair Inc., Caribbean Smoothies & Siggy’s, Crutchee’s Concessions, II Dog Enterprises, and G&G Concessions (donated to the Governor’s Blue Ribbon Livestock Auction Scholarship Fund)

• champion Shropshire lamb exhibited by Megan Blume of Iowa County; winning bid of $5,000 by Walmart

• champion Maine-Anjou steer exhibited by Katie Leahy of Darlington County; winning bid of $5,000 by WS Ag Center

• champion Yorkshire barrow exhibited by Luke Powers of Dunn County; winning bid of $3,000 by the Porktoberfeast Syndicate: Saz’s, Leff’s Lucky Town, Bunzel’s Meat Market, Trawicki Electric, Blue Moon Tavern at the Park, Country Fresh Meats, Milwaukee Admirals, PMI, Major Goolsby’s and Melotte Meats

• champion any other breed lamb exhibited by Elysa Doherty of Jefferson County; winning bid of $3,750 by Premier Insurance Solutions

• champion Angus steer exhibited by Emma Kraft of Menomonie County; winning bid of $15,500 by Halbman Co., Mindemann Farms, Premier Insurance Solutions, Weigel’s Steer Pit, Minor’s Garden Center, Bob May Cattle, Kevin Schuele and Advance Fun Technology/Ejection Seat

• champion Landrace barrow exhibited by Carter Daniels of Sauk County; winning bid of $4,000 by Interstate Parking and Statewide Fencing Inc.

• champion Polypay lamb exhibited by Joshua Riemer of Ozaukee County; winning bid of $4,000 by Beechwood Sales and Service

• champion Hereford steer exhibited by Kavy Fargo of Iowa County; winning bid of $5,000 by Brock and Lauren May

• champion Chester White barrow exhibited by Cate Cherney of Sauk County; winning bid of $4,500 by Saz’s Owners Group and Northway Fencing (donated to Pork-toberfeast)

• champion Shorthorn steer exhibited by Sam Henderson of Racine County; winning bid of $9,000 by Beer Capitol Distributing

• champion Hampshire barrow exhibited by Logan Schmitz of Iowa County; winning bid of $3,500 by Meijer (donated to the Governor’s Blue Ribbon Livestock Auction Scholarship Fund)

• champion any other breed steer exhibited by Kole Lorntz of St. Croix County; winning bid of $7,000 by Big Ox Energy (donated to the Governor’s Blue Ribbon Livestock Auction Scholarship Fund)

• champion Berkshire barrow exhibited by Kora Gunderson of Racine County; winning bid of $4,000 by Kevin Schmidt Siding and Insulation

• champion registered dairy steer exhibited by Coltin Coffeen of Brown County; winning bid of $12,000 by American Foods Group

• champion any other breed barrow exhibited by Chase Cherney of Sauk County; winning bid of $5,000 by MillerCoors and the Pork-toberfeast Syndicate: Saz’s, Leff’s Lucky Town, Bunzel’s Meat Market, Trawicki Electric, Blue Moon Tavern at the Park, Country Fresh Meats, Milwaukee Admirals, PMI, Melotte Meats and Major Goolsby’s

• champion Hereford barrow exhibited by Morgan Vondra of Iowa County; winning bid of $7,000 by Meijer (donated to the Governor’s Blue Ribbon Livestock Auction Scholarship Fund)

Sports packages
In addition, four sports packages and an original piece of art were auctioned off.

• A World Series Cubs baseball print, autographed by Chicago Cubs legends Anthony Rizzo and Kris Bryant, which includes a replica World Series ring and pin and a letter of authenticity, went to East Point Sportz Pub for $5,500.

• A one-of-a-kind print of three-time MVP Hall of Famer Brett Favre by artist Danny Day, signed and numbered for a true Packer fan, went to Halbman Co. for $2,500.

• A signed Brett Favre Hall of Fame print celebrating one of the most memorable Packer moments in 2016, which includes a Hall of Fame patch and letter of authenticity, went to Wisconsin Souvenir Milkcaps for $1,000.

• A package that includes a Camp Randall Stadium signed canvas print and UW football helmet by Paul Chryst and Barry Alverez, along with two tickets to the 2017 Wisconsin vs. Iowa football game, went to Big Ox Energy for $2,500 .

• The original, winning artwork by Julie Roth of West Bend for the 2017 Commemorative Wisconsin State Fairtastic Poster Competition went to Interstate Parking for $750.

Source: Wisconsin State Fair