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Governor’s Blue Ribbon Auction rewards Wisconsin fair exhibitors

Youth exhibitors at the Wisconsin State Fair benefited from their hard work at Wednesday’s Governor’s Blue Ribbon Livestock Auction.  The annual event, hosted by the Blue Ribbon Sale of Champions Foundation and Wisconsin State Fair raised $381,350.

The livestock that brought in the highest bids were the Grand Champion Crossbred Steer exhibited by Josie Lorentz of Woodville which sold for $35,000, the Champion Duroc Barrow exhibited by Emersen Butts of Evansville which sold for $23,000, and the Champion Simmental Low Percent Steer exhibited by Tessa Smith of Hubertus which sold for $20,000.

This year, the auction awarded $55,000 in scholarships and contributed an additional $30,000 to support Wisconsin State Fair Junior Exhibitor Showmanship, Knowledge Master Showman and Reserve Champion awards.

Here is the complete list of livestock, exhibitors, and bids followed by scholarship and leadership award winners, furnished by the Governor’s Blue Ribbon Auction:

• Grand Champion Steer (Crossbred) exhibited by Josie Lorentz of Woodville, Winning bid of $35,000 by Kenosha Beef
• Grand Champion Barrow (Crossbred) exhibited by Amanda Miklaszewski of Franksville, Winning bid of $22,500 by Interstate Parking Company and Statewide Fencing
• Grand Champion Market Lamb (Hampshire) exhibited by Sydney Cherney of Wonewoc, Winning bid of $19,000 by Meijer
• Grand Champion Market Goat (Boer) exhibited by Wyatt Nixon of Delavan, Winning bid of $14,000 by Molson Coors
• Reserve Grand Champion Steer (Crossbred) exhibited by Chance Austin of Milton, Winning bid of $15,000 by Wisconsin Souvenir Milkcaps
• Reserve Grand Champion Barrow (Crossbred) exhibited by Logan Bennett of Durand, Winning bid of $15,000 by Leffs Lucky town, Ironwood Golf Course, Bunzel’s Meat Market, Blue Moon Tavern, Trawicki Electric, Major Goolsby’s, Fein Brothers, Swag Promotions, Hot House Tavern, Slim McGinns, Dale Z’s
• Reserve Grand Champion Market Lamb (Hampshire) exhibited by Wyatt Nixon of Delavan, Winning bid of $9,000 by Giant Slide, II Dog Enterprize, Tropics at the Fair, Caribbean Smoothies, Skyfair Inc, Crutchees, Mary Beth Carr, Flying Solo, Crutches’s Cheese on a Stick
• Grand Champion Bred and Owned Market Steer exhibited by Adam Massman of Alma Center, Winning bid of $16,000 by Interstate Parking Company and Statewide Fencing
• Grand Champion Bred and Owned Market Barrow exhibited by Kaden Butts of Evansville, Winning bid of $8,000 by Meijer
• Grand Champion Bred and Owned Market Lamb exhibited by Justin Johnson of Delavan, Winning bid $8,000 by Case IH
• Grand Champion Bred and Owned Market Goat exhibited by Josie Dekker of Oostburg, Winning bid of $7,000 by Meijer
• Champion Maintetainer Steer exhibited by Riley Runkel of Burlington, Winning bid of $14,000 by Beechwood Sales & Service
• Champion Duroc Barrow exhibited by Emersen Butts of Evansville, Winning bid of $23,000 by Klitzman Seed LLC, Wisconsin Pork Association, Top Notch Feed, Bank of New Glaurus, Klondike Farms, 33 Feeds, Gold Crest Farms, Maple Grove Farms, Veum Genetics, Booze Family, Haack Concessions, Chad & Kelly Butts Family, Grandma & Grandpa Bartz, In Memory of Grandpa Alan, Kelli and Johnson, AC Agronomy, Carolyn Butts, Adam & Tracy Travis, Jason & Sarah Douglas, O’Learly Gunn Farms, Crull Family, Kegonsa Cattle Company
• Champion Dorset Advantage exhibited by Wyatt Nixon of Delavan, Winning bid of $5,000 by Reyes Coca-Cola
• Champion Chianina exhibited by Breeze Bunker of Sparta, Winning bid of $11,000 by Meijer
• Champion Chester White Barrow exhibited Nicholas Duch of New London, Winning bid of $7,000 bySaz’s Hospitality

• Champion Natural Color Lamb exhibited by Braden Bowers of Belmont, Winning bid of $6,000 by Leffs Lucky town, Ironwood Golf Course, Bunzel’s Meat Market, Blue Moon Tavern, Trawicki Electric, Major Goolsby’s, Fein Brothers, Swag Promotions, Hot House Tavern, Slim McGinns, Dale Z.’s
• Champion Charolais Steer exhibited by Madalynn Wickers of Whitelake, Winning bid of $5,000 by Wisconsin Souvenir Milkcaps
• Champion Hampshire Barrow exhibited by Sydney Cherney of Wonewoc, Winning bid of $2,000 by Meijer
• Champion Crossbred Lamb exhibited by Brayden Bowers of Belmont, Winning bid of $3,000 by Klitzman Seed LLC and Klondike Farms
• Champion Hereford Steer exhibited David Schultz of Germantown, Winning bid of $5,000 by WEC Energies Foundation
• Champion Tamworth Barrow exhibited by Annabeth Sprecher of Lone Rock, Winning bid of $6,000 by Dalton Lumber & Supply, Trembling Prairie Farms, Alsum Farms & Produce
• Champion Shropshire Lamb exhibited Lainey Popp of Delavan, Winning bid of $3,000 by Meijer
• Champion Simmental Low % Steer exhibited by Tessa Smith of Hubertus, Winning bid of $20,000 by Austin Plumbing
• Champion Hereford Barrow exhibited by Judy Jentges of Port Washington, Winning bid of $4,500 by Saz’s Hospitality, Milwaukee Admirals
• Champion Dorset Lamb exhibited by Isaac Doyle of Waupaca, Winning bid of $10,000 by Dalton Lumber & Supply, Trembling Prairie Farms, Alsum Farms & Produce, Team Issac
• Champion Shorthorn Steer exhibited by Annabeth Sprecher of Lone Rock, Winning bid of $5,000 by Meijer
• Champion Spotted Barrow exhibited by Sydney Cherney of Wonewoc, Winning bid of $3,000 by Dalton Lumber & Supply
• Champion Oxford Lamb exhibited by Allison Loosen of Hartford, Winning bid of $6,000 by Pohlman Family, Whitetail Concrete, LLC
• Champion Angus Steer exhibited by Madison Kegley of Burlington, Winning bid of $10,500 by Meijer
• Champion Yorkshire Barrow exhibited by Kendyl Rowe of LaValle, Winning bid of $2,000 by Reyes Coca-Cola
• Champion Southdown Lamb exhibited by Justin Brandel of Lake Mills, Winning bid of $7,500 by Friends of JB Livestock
• Champion AOB Steer exhibited by Morgan Kleppe of Richland Center, Winning bid of $6,000 by Statewide Fencing
• Champion Berkshire Barrow exhibited by Rudy Hansen of Sparta, Winning bid of $4,000 by Beechwood Sales & Service
• Champion Any Other Breed Lamb exhibited Hadley Watson of Edgerton, Winning bid of $4,000 by R&K Sons Construction
• Champion Simmental Steer exhibited by Morgan Kleppe of Richland Center, Winning bid of $5,000 by Meijer
• Champion Landrace Barrow exhibited by Rudy Hansesn of Sparta. Winning bid of $3,000 by Clayton Cattle Company

• Champion Katahdin Lamb exhibited by Bryndalyn Kanable of Richland Center, Winning bid of $2,000 by Meijer
• Champion Shorthorn Plus Steer exhibited by Brenna Thorson of Rudolf, Winning bid of $4,750 by Leffs Lucky town, Ironwood Golf Course, Bunzel’s Meat Market, Blue Moon Tavern, Trawicki Electric, Major Goolsby’s, Fein Brothers, Swag Promotions, Hot House Tavern, Slim McGinns, Dale Z.’s
• Champion Poland China Barrow exhibited by WEC Energies Foundation
• Champion Dairy Steer exhibited by Madeline Bernick of Spencer, Winning bid of $13,000 by Case IH, Meijer, Leffs Lucky town, Ironwood Golf Course, Bunzel’s Meat Market, Blue Moon Tavern, Trawicki Electric, Major Goolsby’s, Fein Brothers, Swag Promotions, Hot House Tavern, Slim McGinns, Dale Z.’s

Scholarship Recipients

Congratulations to all the Wisconsin State Fair Junior Exhibitors who were awarded a 2025 Governor’s Blue Ribbon Livestock Auction Scholarship. Below is a list of recipients:

$5,000 Recipient

● Julia Lenz

$3,000 Recipients

● Megan Doherty

● Ethan Kohlman

● Ellen Robinson

$2,000 Recipients

● Clara Henderson

● Annamarie Aue

● Macy Cross

● Landon Rehberg

● Hannah Oleson

● Kylie Garner

● Judy Jentges

$1,000 Recipients

• Emma Inman
• Luke Schubert
• Atley Potterton
• Kaila Cross
• Summer Rake
• Brooklyn Jones
• Makayla Kammes
• Mallory Cepress
• McKinley Krueger
• Bryn Meyer
• Lillianna Berget
• Maggie Kershner
• Abby Anderson
• Ella Roehl
• Ty Thorson
• Kaycee Lindner
• Dani Graff
• Brynn Hannes
• Alison George
• Landen Leibfried
• Sam Wolf
• Kendyll Theobald
• Annie Robinson
• Payton Heins
• Sydney Cherney
• Mariyah Creaser
• Isabella Dannenberg

Leadership Awards

At the Wisconsin State Fair, excellence is built on hard work, leadership, and a commitment to community. Each year, the Governor’s Blue Ribbon Livestock Auction recognizes outstanding individuals in Junior Beef, Swine, Sheep, and Market Goat categories.

Selected by their peers and leaders for their leadership, sportsmanship, and dedication to livestock care, these honorees represent the best of Wisconsin’s youth in agriculture.

2025 Leadership Award Recipients:

• Beef – Karlie Marks of Hortonville
• Goat – Payton Heins of Mineral Point
• Sheep – Morgan Van Schyndle of Cuba City
• Swine – Madisyn Henderson of Union Grove