Governor's Sale of Champions Breaks Three Records

SPRINGFIELD, Ill. -- Governor Pat Quinn presided over a successful Sale of Champions Tuesday evening, as the annual auction of prize-winning Illinois State Fair livestock broke three records.

Orion Samuelson, legendary broadcaster for WGN Radio in Chicago, served as emcee for the event.  In his 48th year at the Illinois State Fair, Samuelson praised the young producers who raised the champion animals as well as those involved in the 4H and FFA youth organizations.

Addie Girard's grand champion steer sold for the most money.  McDonald's Corporation purchased the Pontiac teen's Crossbred for $30,100.

While not the highest sales price, the amounts paid for the Grand Champion Poultry Pen Trio, Grand Champion Rabbit Meat Pen and Grand Champion Meat Goat all set auction records.

Asgrow bought the Poultry Pen Trio from Peter Elliot of Monmouth for $8,000, or $300 more than the previous State Fair record.  Brighton's Lexy Schafer sold her champion rabbits to a group including the Jersey-Macoupin 4H Supporters, Illinois State Fair Sky Ride and Battery Specialists for $7,500, eclipsing the previous mark by $100.  And the champion meat goat, which was exhibited by Chris Curry of Dawson, sold to Dr. Margaret MacGregor, Jason Elvidge and son, Parker, of Holders Hill Farm for $6,900, an impressive $1,300 higher than the previous record sales price.

All proceeds from the sale are split between three entities:  10 percent goes to 4H, 10 percent goes to FFA and the remaining 80 percent goes to the owner of the champion animal.

Following is a list of the animals sold at the auction as well as their owners, the purchasers, and the value of each animal:

Product:  Land of Lincoln Dairy Print
Owner:  Justin Kilgus
Location:  Fairbury, Livingston County
Purchaser:  Prairie Farms Dairy
Amount:  $1,000

Product:  Land of Lincoln Grand Champion Wether
Owner:  Sarah DeSchepper
Location:  Altona, Knox County
Purchaser:  Friends of Knox County 4H; Agri-Gold Seed; Frank Hofreitter Family
Amount:  $4,550

Product:  Land of Lincoln Grand Champion Barrow
Owner:  Bryce Walters
Location:  Tampico, Whiteside County
Purchaser:  Pioneer Hi-Bred International
Amount:  $4,500

Product:  Land of Lincoln Grand Champion Steer
Owner:  Bradi Branyan
Location:  Assumption, Shelby County
Purchaser:  Friends of Land of Lincoln Cattle Breeders; DeKalb; Rex Evans Bedding and Feed
Amount:  $18,250

Product:  Grand Champion Poultry Pen Trio
Owner:  Peter Elliot
Location:  Monmouth, Warren County
Purchaser:  Asgrow
Amount:  $8,000

Product:  Grand Champion Rabbit Pen Trio
Owner:  Lexy Schafer
Location:  Brighton, Macoupin County
Purchaser:  Jersey-Macoupin 4H Supporters; Illinois State Fair Sky Ride; Battery Specialists
Amount:  $7,500

Product:  Grand Champion Meat Goat Wether
Owner:  Chris Curry
Location:  Dawson, Sangamon County
Purchaser:  Dr. Margaret MacGregor, Mr. Jason Elvidge and son, Parker, Holders Hill Farm
Amount:  $6,900

Product:  Grand Champion Wether
Owner:  Sarah DeSchepper
Location:  Altona, Knox County
Purchaser:  North American Midway Entertainment
Amount:  $7,500

Product:  Grand Champion Barrow
Owner:  Codee Schlipf
Location:  El Paso, Woodford County
Purchaser:  Brandt Consolidated, Inc.
Amount:  $15,000

Product:  Grand Champion Steer
Owner:  Addie Girard
Location:  Pontiac, Livingston County
Purchaser:  McDonald's Corporation
Amount:  $30,100