Press Releases
Governor's Sale of Champions Sets New Record With Steer Sale
SPRINGFIELD, Ill. - The 2007 Illinois State Fair Governor's Sale of Champions was a success yet again, with a record purse collected for the Grand Champion Steer. "Yahtzee," a 1,344-pound crossbred steer owned by Nicholas Day of Lovington, Ill., sold for $45,000. The sale price eclipsed the record $41,000 purchase price of the champion in 2006. The buyers were DeKalb Asgro Corporation, Simmons and Cooper Law offices, Battery Specialists and the State Bank of Monticello.
Day, 15, said that showing animals is a family affair, but that no show had yet been quite as profitable for his family.
"It's a family affair, but this is our biggest win," he said.
Day said he plans to use his portion of the winnings - 10 percent of the sale price goes to 4-H, and another 10 percent goes to FFA - to help pay for college. He said he plans to attend the University of Illinois to become a veterinarian.
Orion Samuelson, Agribusiness Director of WGN Radio and 45-year veteran emcee of the event, said that the Sale of Champions is vital to the progress of agriculture in Illinois, and is a very important stepping stone for the young exhibitors.
"It's the Super Bowl for these kids," Samuelson said. "They've been working since they started these as projects a year ago, and this is the final."
First Lady Patti Blagojevich assisted state Agricultural Director Chuck Hartke in encouraging bidders to support the state's young livestock producers. One of the beneficiaries was 11-year-old Jazzmyn Whittier of Bloomington. Whittier sold her champion New Zealand White rabbits for $3000 to Brandt Consolidated, Sky-Fair, and appropriately, Friends of Bugs Bunny. She said she was taken aback by the amount her rabbits earned her.
"I was surprised that it got nearly that high," Whittier said. She added that the whole experience was an exciting one for her.
She also added that she plans to save some of the money for culinary school, while using the rest on rabbit supplies. Plan on seeing her back in the future, as Whittier said she has more rabbits at home she plans on showing. However, the rabbits will only be New Zealand Whites, with good reason.
"They're my grandpa's favorite kind," Whittier said.
Below is a list of exhibitors and purchasers for the 2007 Governor's Sale of Champions and Commodities Auction:
Land of Lincoln Dairy Cattle Print: $2500
Exhibitor: Kristen Jordan
Purchaser: Prairie Farms
Land of Lincoln Grand Champion Wether: $4550
Exhibitor: Sarah DeSchepper
Purchaser: Crop Production Services, Rural King, Friends of DeScheppers
Land of Lincoln Grand Champion Barrow: $3000
Exhibitor: Bryce Walters
Purchaser: Illinois Green Industry Association, 17th Street Barbecue
Land of Lincoln Grand Champion Steer: $26,600
Exhibitor: Danny Zehr
Purchaser: Land of Lincoln Breeders, Supporters of the Land of Lincoln Program
Grand Champion Poultry Pen Trio: $3900
Exhibitor: Angela Boesche
Purchaser: Brandt Consolidated
Grand Champion Rabbit Meat Pen: $3000
Exhibitor: Jazzmyn Whittier
Purchaser: Brandt Consolidated, Sky Fair, Friends of Bugs Bunny
Grand Champion Meat Goat Wether: $5600 (new record - previously $2000 in 2006)
Exhibitor: Ryan Sanders
Purchaser: Jason Elvidge and Dr. Margaret MacGregor, Committee to Break the Billy Goat Curse at Wrigley Field
Grand Champion Wether: $7000
Exhibitor: Lynsie Bane
Purchaser: North American Midway Entertainment, Horizon Farms, Friends of Banes
Grand Champion Barrow: $14,000
Exhibitor: Miles Toenyes
Purchaser: McDonalds Corporation
Grand Champion Steer: $45,000 (new record - previous $41,000 in 2006)
Exhibitor: Nicholas Day
Purchaser: DeKalb Asgro Corporation, Simmons-Cooper Law Offices, Battery Specialists, State Bank of Monticello
Best of Show Illinois Wine: $1200
Exhibitor: Galena Cellars, Christine Lawlor-White
Purchaser: Audio-Techni Services (In Memory of Bernie Beard)
Grand Champion Honey: $225
Exhibitor: Jim Belli
Purchaser: Don and Karen Schrader (donated back to Illinois Beekeepers Association)
Grand Champion Ham: $1300
Exhibitor: Weber Meats
Purchaser: George Obernagel
Grand Champion Processed Beef: $750
Exhibitor: Eickman's Processing Co.
Purchaser: Filer Auction and Appraisals, Inc.
Grand Champion Summer Sausage: $700
Exhibitor: Weber Meats
Purchaser: Elaine and Fred Nessler
Grand Champion Bacon: $900
Exhibitor: Miller's Meat Market
Purchaser: Illinois State Auction Association, Farm Credit Services
Grand Champion Swiss Cheese: $350
Exhibitor: Fair Oaks Dairy Products
Purchaser: Corporate Training Center
Grand Champion Cheddar Cheese: $825
Exhibitor: Kraft Foods
Purchaser: Cory Craig, William Beck Auction and Realty
Grand Champion Calico Cheese: $825
Exhibitor: Avanti Food Co.
Purchaser: ISAA, FCS
Grand Champion Blue Cheese: $625
Exhibitor: Swiss Valley Farms
Purchaser: Fout Construction, Wayne K. Hanner, Judge John McCullogh
Grand Champion Doe of Show Goat's Milk: $325
Exhibitor: Evan Jodlowski
Purchaser: McDonalds, Taylorville
Illinois Recognizes Excellence in Agriculture
Farm families, businesses recognized at Agriculture Day at the Illinois State Fair
In recognition of Agriculture Day, a number of families, farmers, teachers, and businesses received Ag Day Awards for their excellence in one of the many agricultural fields. They are as follows:
Outstanding Farm Family - Illinois Pork Producers: Roy and Fran Weitekamp, Raymond
Outstanding Farm Family - Illinois Beef Association: Indian Knoll Cattle Farm, Mechanicsburg
Illinois Conservation Climate Initiative sponsored by the Illinois Environmental Protection Agency: Association of Illinois Soil and Water Conservation Districts, Springfield
Governor's Conservation Farm Family sponsored by Association of Soil and Water
Conservation Districts - Dehlinger Farms, Olney
Outstanding Farm Family - Illinois Farmers Union: Ron and Elsie Voelker, Mason
Outstanding Farm Family - Illinois Farm Bureau: Lynden and Tina Endress, Pearl City
Outstanding Farm Family - Illinois State Grange: Melvin and Dorothy Wagner, Marissa
Outstanding Farm Family - Illinois National Farmers Organization: Larry and Jane Probst, Dietrich,
Illinois Milk Producers' Association Environmental Stewardship Award: Steve Schwoerer Family
2007 Outstanding Sheep Producer sponsored by Illinois Lamb & Wool Producers: Richard Woodcock and Family, Waterloo
Outstanding Agritourism Business Award sponsored by Agriculture & Tourism Partners of Illinois: Curtis Orchard and Pumpkin Patch, Champaign
Outstanding Ag Lender sponsored by Illinois Finance Authority: Dana Wiegand, Goodfield State Bank, Goodfield
Service to Agriculture - Farm Credit Services Award: Mike Adams, St. Louis, MO
R.J. Vollmer Sustainable Agriculture Farm sponsored by IL Department of Agriculture: Don and Enid Shepherd, Kirkland
IL Tree Farm of the Year sponsored by IL Tree Farm Committee: Bob and Pacie Trimble, Monticello
IL Grape Growers and Vintners Association - Best of Show: Galena Cellars Winery & Vineyard, Galena
IL Grape Growers and Vintners Association - Governor's White: Willow Ridge Vineyards and Winery, Shelbyville
IL Grape Growers and Vintners Association - Governor's Red: Prairie State Winery, Genoa
IL Grape Growers and Vintners Association - Governor's Fruit: Pheasant Hollow Winery, Whittington
IL Grape Growers and Vintners Association - Governor's Dessert/Sparkling: White Owl Winery, Birds
IL Grape Growers and Vintners Association - Governor's Rose/Blush Cup: Von Jakob Vineyards, Pomona
Agricultural Education Excellence Award sponsored by IL Leadership Council for Agricultural Education - for Legislation: Senator John Sullivan, Quincy
Agricultural Education Excellence Award - for Agribusiness: Jill Carey-Hargrave, Kingston
Agricultural Education Excellence Award - for Education: Ronald L. Reische, Springfield
Agricultural Education Excellence Award - for Media Relations: RFD Radio, Bloomington
Perry Schneider Award of Special Recognition sponsored by Illinois Leadership Council for Agricultural Education: Mike Massie, Galva
IL 4-H Family Spirit Award sponsored by Illinois 4-H Foundation: Bauer-Hileman Families, Union County
50 Years of Volunteer Service to the Illinois 4-H Youth sponsored by Illinois State 4-H, University of Illinois Extension:
- Harold Behling, Caledonia
- Robert Hopkins, Stillman Valley
- Eleanor J. Markwell, Casey
- Lavanda Joergens, Dieterich
- Orrin Vandeburg, Sycamore
Excellence in Teaching Award-District 1: Joe House, Princeville High School, Princeville
Excellence in Teaching Award-District 2: Parker Bane, Pontiac High School, Pontiac
Excellence in Teaching Award-District 3: Bruce Eidson, Southeastern High School, Augusta
Excellence in Teaching Award-District 4: Sue Schafer, Taylorville High School, Taylorville
Excellence in Teaching Award-District 5: Julie Bond-Ledford, Nashville, Nashville
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