Every judge says the show is about the kids and not the animals, but they still name a champion. At the 2012 Indiana State Fair, the judge awarded Grand Champion Steer to Cole Wilcox from Lawrence County. His black Chianina steer bested the field and received the slap from the judge.
Reserve Grand Champion Steer went to Chloe Martin, Fountain County, with a white-socked black commercial crossbred steer. Then the judge picked the tan-colored Charolais shown by Bailey Rist, LaPorte County, to be third and qualify for the Sale of Champions, which will take place in the Coliseum Saturday.
The judge also picked two other steers for the Sale of Champions, the Reserve Champion Chianina of Kayla Newsom in Boone County, followed by a steer shown by Emily Greenwald of Monroe County.
The grand champion steer drive was part of the festivities in the overall Grand Champion Drive. Earlier in the evening, champion and honor group heifers were picked. Different judges did the steer and heifer evaluation throughout the week.
"Our cattle numbers were up this year," says Bill Llninger, superintendent of the Beef Barn. More than 600 exhibitors showed 865 cattle, with nearly 500 taking part in showmanship, and 174 showing for the first time in the beef show at the Indiana State Fair.
In the heifer division, grand champion was Claire Trennepohl, Henry County, with a Simmental heifer. Reserve champion heifer went to Ellie Sennett, Crawfordsville, with a Chianina heifer.
Also named to the honor group were Becca Chamberlin, Randolph County, plus the Angus heifer of Madison Stockdale from Fountain County. Rounding out the honor group was the shorthorn heifer shown by Xavier Ferris of Johnson County.
The grand champion and reserve grand champion animals in each of the divisions: beef, swine and sheep, received $500 scholarships sponsored by Star Bank.