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Hard work pays off for fair exhibitors

Hard work paid off for several exhibitors at the Wisconsin State Fair Wednesday evening. 

One of the successful exhibitors was Luke Andis from Burlington, Wisconsin, who had two animals sold in the Governor’s Blue Ribbon Auction. He says, “It’s a lot of work, but really fun. They’ve been the two best steers I’ve had.”

Andis’ Grand Champion Crossbred Steer was the top seller, with a winning bid of $35,000 by Kenosha Beef.  His Champion Simmental Steer was bought by Meijerfor $8,000. “That will pay for the animal feed a little bit, and it will definitely help out for next year’s steers.”

He says preparing show animals is not easy. “They are a lot of work, especially if you want to be super-competitive, I mean, it’s an everyday thing. You can’t slack. It’s, you know, you’ve got to put the grind on. You’ve got to get the work in.” Andis has been showing animals for eight years and has one more year of eligibility left.

 Several businesses and buyers groups paid top dollar for the championship animals, including Dennis Vigniere with Birchwood Foods in Kenosha. He tells Brownfield, “We want to support the kids. We think it’s really important to bring up youth in agriculture, so if there’s a way that we can help support those youth by maybe helping with college fees and things of that nature, we want to do so.” Vigniere is a third-generation State Fair auction buyer, following his grandfather’s footsteps.

Ken Luety is with Cabin Creek Farms near Clinton, Wisconsin. He says, “We’ve created some buying groups and our farm has actually made some purchases over the past years, and it’s just awesome to reward these young kids for doing all of the hard work.”

Loren Klitzman is another buyer, and he says the animals sold often benefit additional causes. “Well, usually, we donate it back. I think it goes for scholarship funds and then it gets processed and donated to another organization.”

Along with raising thousands of dollars for exhibitor scholarships, Klitzman says showing animals teaches youth structure and a solid work ethic that will help them succeed in the future.

Audio: Luke Andis discusses his successful auction and the work that goes into raising show animals

Audio: Bidder/Buyer Dennis Vigniere with Birchwood Foods with Brownfield’s Larry Lee before the Governor’s Blue Ribbon Auction

Audio: Bidder/Buyer Ken Luety is with Cabin Creek Farms with Brownfield’s Larry Lee before the Governor’s Blue Ribbon Auction

Audio: Bidder/Buyer Loren Klitzman with Brownfield’s Larry Lee before the Governor’s Blue Ribbon Auction

The following final 2024 statistics were provided by the Blue Ribbon Sale of Champions Foundation:

The Blue Ribbon Sale of Champions Foundation and Wisconsin State Fair officials hosted another successful auction, raising $426,750 for Wisconsin State Fair youth livestock exhibitors at the 2024 Governor’s Blue Ribbon Livestock Auction.

This year, the GBRLA provided $40,000 in scholarship awards as well as $22,000 to fund Wisconsin State Fair Junior Exhibitor Showmanship, Knowledge Master Showman and Reserve Champion awards. The funds raised through the Governor’s Blue Ribbon Livestock Auction directly benefit the Wisconsin State Fair youth livestock exhibitors.

Below is a list of winning bids:

• Grand Champion Steer (Crossbred) exhibited by Luke Andis of Burlington, 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 Brayden Bowers of Belmot, Winning bid of $21,500 by Molson Coors
• Grand Champion Market Goat (Boer) exhibited by Wyatt Nixon of Delevan, Winning bid of $10,000 by Meijer
• Reserve Grand Champion Steer (Crossbred) exhibited by Tucker Bayer of Ringle, Winning bid of $20,000 by Beechwood Sales & Service
• Reserve Grand Champion Barrow (Crossbred) exhibited by Jaycee Tibbits of Mineral Points, Winning bid of $14,000 by Meijer
• Reserve Grand Champion Market Lamb (Natural Colored) exhibited by Brayden Bowers of Belmont, Winning bid of $10,000 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, Venture Architects, Slim McGinns
• Grand Champion Bred and Owned Market Steer (Simmental) exhibited by Dallas Havens of Blanchardville, Winning bid of $20,000 by Wisconsin Souvenir Milk Caps
• Grand Champion Bred and Owned Market Barrow (Yorkshire) exhibited by Emerson Butts of Evansville Winning bid of $18,000 by Klondike Farm, Klitzman Seed LLC, Top Notch Feed, Bennett Family, Booze Family, Grandma and Grandpa Bartz, Slater Family, Julie and Kyle Johnson, AC Agronomy, Taylor and Owen Ringhand, R&K and Sons, 33 Feeds, Grorge Andrew, Veum Genetics, Gold Crest Farms, Travis Family, Kegonsa Cattle Co.
• Grand Champion Bred and Owned Market Lamb and Champion Crossbred Lamb exhibited by Ryli Theis of Poynette, Winning bid $12,000 by Giant Slide, II Dog Enterprize, Tropics at the Fair, Skyfair Inc, Crutchees, Mary Beth Carr
• Grand Champion Bred and Owned Market Goat (Boer) exhibited by Wyatt Nixon of
• Delavan, Winning bid of $3,000 by Meijer
• Champion Chianina Steer exhibited by Landon Rehberg of Elkhorn, Winning bid of $10,000 by WEC Energy Foundation
• Champion Chester White Barrow exhibited by Kashton Murphy of Milton, Winning bid of $11,000 by Milwaukee Admirals, Saz’s Hospitality
• Champion Dorset Advantage exhibited by Ryli Theis of Poynette, Winning bid of $10,000 by Alsum Farms & Produce, Dalton Lumber and Supply, Trembling Prairie Farms
• Champion Charolais exhibited by Landon Rehberg of Elkorn, Winning bid of $16,000 by Reproduction Provision and White Gold Cryogenics
• Champion Spotted Barrow exhibited Cate Cherney of LaValle, Winning bid of $7,500 by Wake Up Call
• Champion Shropshire exhibited by Morgan Squires of Camp Douglas, Winning bid of $7,000 by Meijer
• Champion Maine-Anjou Steer exhibited by Regan Suddeth of Mineral Point, Winning bid of $11,000 by Interstate Parking and Statewide Fencing Inc.
• Champion Berkshire Barrow exhibited by Isabelle Doherty of Johnson Creek, Winning bid of $6,000 by Wisconsin Souvenir Milk Caps
• Champion Dorset Lamb exhibited by Caleb Tracy of Blue River, Winning bid of $4,500 by Reyes Coca-Cola
• Champion Simmental Steer exhibited by Luke Andis of Burlington, Winning bid of $8,000 by Meijer
• Champion Tamworth exhibited by Annabeth Sprecker of Lone Rock, Winning bid of $7,500 by Wisconsin Pork Association
• Champion Southdown Lamb exhibited Aubrey Brandt of Rock Springs, Winning bid of $5,000 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, Venture Architects, Slim McGinns
• Champion Shorthorn Plus Steer exhibited by Camden Russel of Shullsburg, Winning bid of $15,000 by Lafayette County Buyers Group
• Champion Hampshire Barrow exhibited by Sydney Cherney of Wonewoc, Winning bid of $11,000 by Impact Hamps
• Champion Oxford Lamb exhibited by Lainey Popp of Delavan, Winning bid of $4,500 by Kase Auto Body and Farmer Brown Swine
• Champion Simmental Low % Steer exhibited by Kylie Garner of Almond, Winning bid of $6,500 by Alsum Farms & Produce, Dalton Lumber and Supply, Trembling Prairie Farms
• Champion Duroc Barrow exhibited by Kendyll Theobald of Barneveld, Winning bid of $6,000 by Case IH
• Champion Any Other Breed Lamb exhibited by Jaxcyn McCartney of Platteville, Winning bid of $4,500 by Ewe-nique Products
• Champion Shorthorn Steer exhibited by Bryce Laufenber of Humbird, Winning bid of $4,500 by Meijer
• Champion Landrace Barrow exhibited by Landon Rehberg of Elkhorn, Winning bid of $4,000 by Polman Family Whitetail Concrete LLC
• Champion Katadhdin Lamb exhibited by Brianna Strupp of Hartford, Winning bid of $4,000 by Klondike Farms and Klitzman Seed LLC
• Champion Angus steer exhibited by Colter Thom of Janesville, Winning bid of $18,000by CT Support Staff
• Champion Poland China Barrow exhibited by Brandy Long of Darlington, Winning bid of $5,000 by Lafayette County Buyers Group
• Champion Herford Steer exhibited by Nolan Eulgen of Waterford, Winning bid of $8,500 by Friends of Racine County; County Line Contractors, North Cape Vet Clinic, Ehrhart Farms, Performance Planting, Case IH, Beck Family Farms, Harry Hanson’s Meat Service, Badger State Ethenol, Premier Insurance
• Champion Herford Barrow exhibited by Megan Doherty of Watertown, Winning bid of $4,500 by 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, Venture Architects, Slim McGinns
• Champion Dairy Steer exhibited by Mackenna Slater of Evansville, Winning bid of $13,000 by American Food Group
• Champion Any Other Breed Steer exhibited Annabeth Sprecher of Lone Rock, Winning bid of $19,500 by 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, Venture Architects, Slim McGinns

In addition to livestock, other items were also auctioned:

• Sports Package: Framed and signed Green Bay Packer Jordan Love Jersey, winning bid of $2,250 by Kenosha Beef
• Sports Package: Framed and singed Watt Brothers Football Picture and 2 tickets to Badger Football home opener, winning bid of $2,000 by Dalton Lumber and Supply
• Sports Package: Jordan Love authentic signed Green Bay Packer helmet and Jordan Love canvas print, winning bid of $1,000 by American Food Group
• Sports Package: Signed Jordan Love print, winning bid of $1,500 by American FoodsGroup

Congratulations to all the Wisconsin State Fair Junior Exhibitors who were awarded a 2024 Governor’s Blue Ribbon Livestock Auction Scholarship. Below is a list of recipients:

$3,000 Recipient

• Isabelle Doherty of Johnson Creek
• Claire Esselman of Clinton

$2,000 Recipients

• Julia Lyons of New Auburn
• Brianna Buechner of Hancock
• Chance Austin of Milton
• Kennedy Kuehni of Boyd
• Kyle Degner of Hillsboro
• Breeze Bunker of Sparta
• Karissa Rettler of Coloma
• Lindsey Montgomery of Waupaca

$1,000 Recipients

• Cora Kohlman of Sheboygan Falls
• Caleb Tracy of Blue River
• Lindsey Schmoll of Wausa
• Taylor Maroszek of Pulaski
• Cate Cherney of Lavalle
• Phoenix Seubert of Bonduel
• Morgan Firlus of Wonewoc
• Morgan Vanschyndle of Cuba City
• Chaela Rabas of Oconto Falls
• Savannah Bailey of Casco
• Cianna Diedrich of Hortonville
• Leah Bobek of Markesan
• Kylie Slark of Markesan
• Emma Hady of Muscoda
• Madison Kegley of Burlington
• Natalie Abey of Janesville
• Addison Glodowski of Rosholt
• Samantha Neff of Oconomowoc

$500 Dave Koenig Scholarship Recipient

• Julia Lyons of New Auburn