SPRINGFIELD, IL. – Being in the Governor’s Sale of Champions is something all livestock exhibitors dream about, but few are able to accomplish. Each year, this marquis event of the Illinois State Fair Ag Day festivities showcases the hard work and dedication of the youth in the agriculture industry.
In addition to being spotlighted before a full crowd at the Livestock Center on Tuesday night, these Grand Champion exhibitors, along with the Reserve Grand Champion exhibitors, will receive a portion of the proceeds from the sale of their animal. The exhibitors use the funds towards their college education, or invest it back into projects for next year.
“The Illinois State Fair recognizes that these youth exhibitors are the future of Illinois agriculture,” stated Raymond Poe, Agriculture Director. “In the coming years, there is projected to be an influx of agriculture jobs available for those who are trained, educated and qualified to fill them. We strive to encourage these kids to stay involved in Illinois agriculture and make a career in our state’s number one industry.”
CME Group and AT&T also realize the importance of education, which is why they have collectively donated $60,000 in scholarships to this year’s Sale of Champions. Each of the ten Grand Champion exhibitors will received a $1,000 scholarship from AT&T and a $5,000 scholarship from CME Group, for a total of $6,000.
This year, the Department of Agriculture made significant changes to the formula used to award the money raised at tonight’s sale. These changes were designed to award more youth exhibitors for their agricultural achievements. Under new rules, this year’s Reserve Grand Champion exhibitors will be receiving a portion of the proceeds from this evening’s sale.
Below are the results of the 2017 Commodity Auction and the 2017 Sale of Champions. It should be noted that the goats, sheep, barrows, and steers are being donated to the University of Illinois College of ACES.
Commodity | Exhibitor | Location | Purchases | Price |
Champion Cream Cheese | Swiss Valley | Luana, Iowa | Illinois Auctioneers Association
Senator Sam McCann |
$800 |
Champion Queso Fresco | V &V Supremo | Chicago, IL / Cook County | University of Illinois College of ACES
Dean Kim Kidwell |
$500 |
Champion Swiss Cheese | Shullsburg Cheese Company | Shullsburg, WI | Joe Hampton
George Obernagle |
$700 |
Champion Cheddar Cheese | Foremost Farms | Marshfield, WI | Rodd Buffington
CTC |
$550 |
Champion Ice Cream | Bob’s Ice Cream | Eureka, IL / Woodford County | Susan J. Koch, Chancellor, University of Illinois – Springfield | $600 |
Champion Snack Sticks | Ream’s Meat Market | Elburn, IL / Kane County | George Obernagle | $800 |
Champion Beef Jerky | AJ’s Lena Maid Meats | Lena, IL / Stephenson County | Amy Cheatham
ISHA/Farm Credit of Illinois |
$850 |
Champion Bacon | AJ’s Lena Maid Meats | Lena, IL / Stephenson County | Pearly Hanold Jr.
Cracked Egg Diner |
$1,350 |
Champion Ham | Eickman’s Processing Company | Seward, IL / Winnebago County | Earl Sorrells of Raymond, IL | $1,150 |
Best of Show Wine | Galena Cellars | Galena, IL / Jo Daviess County | Senator Sam McCann
Illinois State Auctioneers Association – District 5 |
$700 |
Grand Champion Honey | Angela Nelson | Elburn, IL / Kane County | Marty & Donna Davis – McDonald’s | $750 |
Best in Show Dairy Goat’s Milk | Griffen Jodlowski | Atlanta, IL / Logan County | Adcock-Britz Auction | $250 |
Animal | Exhibitor | County | Purchasers | Price |
Grand Champion Rabbit Meat Pen | Dax Gentes | Woodford | Agrivest Farm Management
American Council of Engineering Companies of Illinois Brandt |
$3,000 |
Grand Champion Poultry Market Pen | Caroline Gill | Peoria | Burrus Seed Company
Friends of Caroline Gill Yordy Turkey Farm in Morton |
$5,250 |
Land of Lincoln Supreme Champion Dairy Cow Print | Morgan Olbrich | McHenry | Prairie Farms, Inc. | $3,000 |
Reserve Grand Champion Meat Goat Wether & Reserve Grand Champion Land of Lincoln Meat Goat Wether | Kadie Hummel | Kankakee | Skyride
Battery Specialists Midwest Livestock – Shawn Andrews |
$2,750 |
Grand Champion Meat Goat Wether & Grand Champion Land of Lincoln Meat Goat Wether | Tara Hummel | Kankakee | Evans Feed & Bedding
Glen Werry Springfield Plastics John & Sherry Tomhave |
$4,250 |
Grand Champion Land of Lincoln Wether Lamb | Halie Runner | McDonough | Channel Seed
Kumbach Agrigold Dearwester Grain Friends of Halie Runner Carol Lingley |
$5,350 |
Grand Champion Wether Lamb | Kashen Ellerbrock | Henry | North American Midway Entertainment | $8,000 |
Grand Champion Land of Lincoln Barrow | Bryce Bedeker | Grundy | Monsanto, DEKALB and Asgrow
Marty & Donna Davis –Marty & Donna Davis – |
$19,000 |
Grand Champion Barrow | Cooper Bertolino | Christian | CME Group | $25,000 |
Grand Champion Land of Lincoln Steer | Adam Miller | Livingston | Brandt
Pease’s Bunn Gourmet Abby Tomhave |
$29,100 |
Grand Champion Steer | Olivia Caldwell | Peoria | Governor and Mrs. Bruce Rauner | $50,000 |
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