Prairie State Wire

Governor JB Pritzker and First Lady MK Pritzker Donate $105,000

SPRINGFIELD, IL - The annual Governor's Sale of Champions at the Illinois State Fair auctions off the best livestock as judged by competitions throughout the fair. Grand Champion is the highest distinction youth exhibiting livestock in Illinois can earn, and tonight, 10 exhibitors took home that title.

Governor JB Pritzker and First Lady MK Pritzker took home the Grand Champion Steer for the fifth year in a row, donating $105,000 towards the purchase of the animal. The Grand Champion Steer will be donated to Feeding Illinois and dispersed to food banks across the state.

"These young exhibitors represent the best of the best in Illinois agriculture," said Jerry Costello II, Director of the Illinois Department of Agriculture. "Earning a spot in the Sale of Champions is the result of a tremendous amount of work - late nights and early mornings in the barn. It's hard work. To see our youth in agriculture recognized for the effort that they put into these animals is beyond gratifying."

Grand Champion exhibitors, along with 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.

Recognizing the importance of education, CME Group contributed $50,000 to the 2024 Governor's Sale of Champions to be split into nine scholarships. Beck's Hybrids provided $20,000 to be split among the grand champions.

Below are results from both auctions:

**Commodity Auction Results:**

- **Champion Queso Blanco Cheese:** V&V Supremo Foods (Chicago, IL) purchased by Midwest Dairy for $1,050.

- **Champion Bourbon Black Pepper Cheese:** Shullsburg Creamery (Shullsburg, IL) purchased by University of Illinois College of ACES for $800.

- **Champion Strawberry Cheesecake Custard:** Front Street Creamery (El Paso, IL) purchased by Marty & Donna Davis from McDonald's for $600.

- **Champion French Onion Dip:** Prairie Farms Carbondale (Carbondale, IL) purchased by Butch Jacobs Family for $300.

- **Champion Buckeye Ice Cream:** Prairie Farms Rockford (Rockford, IL) purchased by Marty & Donna Davis from McDonald's for $250.

- **Champion Bacon:** Eickman's Processing Co. Inc. (Seward, IL) purchased by Paul Turner from Turner Farms for $700.

- **Champion Bone-In Ham:** Eickman's Processing Co. Inc. (Seward, IL) purchased by Marty & Donna Davis from McDonald's for $750.

- **Champion Beef Jerky:** Korte Meat Processing (Highland, IL) purchased by Illinois State Auctioneers Association for $600.

- **Champion Snack Sticks:** Wenneman Meat Co. (Saint Libory, IL) purchased by Illinois State Auctioneers Association for $1,200.

- **Champion Cooked Bratwurst:** Behrmann Meat & Processing (Albers, IL) purchased by Brian Engelmann from Engelmann Construction for $1,700.

- **Illinois State Fair Wine Show Champion:** Blue Sky Vineyard (Makanda, IL) purchased by Kim Carney Rhodes supporting Friends of Macoupin County Fair for $750.

- **Grand Champion Honey:** William Budd (Springfield, IL) purchased by former Director Joe Hampton from Illinois Dept. of Agriculture for $800.

- **Grand Champion Dairy Goat Milk:** Ava Crites (Rantoul, IL) purchased by Marty & Donna Davis from McDonald's for $525.

**Sale of Champions Results:**

- **Grand Champion Rabbit Market Pen**: Chesney Thornton (Piatt County), purchasers Robert Nelson & AgriVest Farm Management; Logan Frye & Field Level Agriculture Inc.; John Riley & Cardinal Transport; Gensini Cattle ($5,000).

- **Grand Champion Poultry Meat Pen**: Oakley Yard (Knox County), purchasers Marty & Donna Davis from McDonald's ($5,000).

- **Land of Lincoln Supreme Champion Dairy Cow Print**: Connor Hartmann (Bond County), purchasers Midwest Dairy; Beck's Hybrids; Prairie Farms; Clinton County Vet; St. Louis Dairy; FNB Community Bank; Langham; Bond County Farm Bureau ($6,750).

- **Land of Lincoln Grand Champion Meat Goat**: Kadie Hummel (Kankakee County), purchasers Kiefer Farms; Syngenta; Illinois State Fair Sky Ride ($5,500).

- **Grand Champion Meat Goat**: Bryce Clayton (Scott County), purchaser George Obernagel & Obernagel Family Farms ($8$8$0$0$0).

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