Governor’s Steer Show breaks record

AMES — In another record-breaking year, the 42nd annual Iowa Governor’s Charity Steer Show raised $568,000 for the Ronald McDonald House Charities of Iowa.

This was a significant jump from last year’s record of $501,000. Including this year’s donations, the Iowa Governor’s Charity Steer is inching close to $6 million in donations since its inception in 1983.

All money raised benefits the three independent Ronald McDonald House Charities of Iowa located in Des Moines, Iowa City and Sioux City. These three houses have served over 55,000 families from all 50 states and many foreign countries.

Families from all 99 counties in Iowa have benefited from the Ronald McDonald Houses of Iowa.

The steer show is hosted by the Office of the Governor of Iowa, the Iowa Cattlemen’s Association, and the Iowa Beef Industry Council.

Two exhibitors exceeded the threshold of the most dollars raised throughout the event from donations and the sale of their steer. Baylen Brink raised $71,354, and Jacob Ringkob raised $58,211, which topped the previous record of $48,000.

This year’s winner of the Community Hero Award was Layne White from Blakesburg. White collected 175 pounds of pop tabs and a lot of nonperishable items for the Ronald McDonald House Charities.

White was sponsored by the Davis County Beef Promoters and showed with celebrity, Mercedes Northup, who was on The Bachelor.

The showmanship contest was judged by Brad and Drake Hook. Drake awarded Cheyenne Houk, from Blakesburg, and her celebrity showman, Mark McCully, CEO of American Angus Association, Grand Champion Showman.

The People’s Choice Award, gives the audience and team supporters a voice in the competition as they help select the winner of this event. Two-time NCAA champion wrestler, David Carr, and his youth partner, Kate Totemeier from Columbus Junction, who took the award.

The most prestigious award of the show, the Judge’s Grand Champion, was given to Whopper and his youth exhibitor, Emma Norman of Searsboro and celebrity showman Jeff Angelo, an iHeart and WHO Radio personality.

This team was sponsored by the Iowa Bankers Association.

Following the show, a live auction raised funds through the sale of each steer and additional value-added items donated by industry supporters and celebrities.

These funds were added to the donations received by each youth participant, resulting in the $568,000 donation going to the Ronald McDonald House Charities of Iowa.