May Repeats as Champion in 40th Governor’s Sale Agri-View: Livestock News

Brock May’s crossbred steer, topped the highly competitive steer show for the second year in a row at the Wisconsin State Fair last week.

What was he thinking after the judge, Willard LeMaster, selected the 1,315-pound, caramel colored steer, Old Yeller?

“Oh my God!” May said.

For the second year, the packed coliseum watched May’s steer be selected as the Grand Champion. Instantly, tears streamed down the 14-year-olds face, covered by a slight film of black paint, remnants from fitting and showing cattle all day.

“It’s pretty awesome,” he said after being selected. “I was hoping I had a good one.”

The Mineral Point native is the son of Bobby and Jodie May and is headed into his freshman year at Mineral Point High School. May also exhibited the Reserve Champion Chianina steer.

The Grand Champion steer was purchased by long time Governor’s Blue Ribbon Livestock Auction supporter, Metcalfe Sentry Foods for $25,000.

The Reserve Grand Champion Steer was exhibited by Justin Wedig of Darlington. The 1,310 pound Chi steer was sold to Miller Coors for $9,000.

It was Tierney Reilly’s day in the market lamb show when judge, Justin Jonas, selected her 132-pound Hampshire lamb as Grand Champion. Reilly, who named her lamb Christian, after Batman actor Christian Bale, was also brought to tears as she made eye contact with her parents Brian and Jayci Reilly, and brother Calvin.

“I’m just so excited,” exclaimed the 15-year-old. In her fourth year exhibiting at the Wisconsin State Fair, it’s the first time she has been selected Grand Champion.

“I’ve put so much work into it. It finally paid off,” she said. Tierney and her younger brother Calvin work hard throughout the summer, practicing showing up to three times per day. And it’s apparent in the show ring. Her poise and showing technique is impeccable.

Making the win even better was the fact the lamb was bred and raised by the family. The lamb was sold to Saz’s, Leff’s Lucky Town, Zimmerman Design Group, Spectrum Development, Rowbottom Partners, Bunzel’s Meat Market, All City Motors, and the Milwaukee Admirals for $8,500. Reilly also exhibited the Champion Chester White barrow, which also sold in the Governor’s Auction.

Katelyn George, Evansville, exhibited the Reserve Grand Champion lamb, a 129-pound crossbred. George sold her lamb to Anheuser-Busch, Inc. for $5,000.

Metcalfe Sentry Foods purchased the Grand Champion Barrow, a 253-pound crossbred exhibited by Trip Downing of Janesville for $11,000.

Downing, 17, is the son of Ron and Rhonda Downing, and a senior at Clinton High School.

“My heart’s still racing,” he said after being selected as Grand Champion by hog judge Ryan Watje. “I think it’s still in shock.”

It was Downing’s first time exhibiting the Grand Champion, but he exhibited Reserve Grand Champion in 2005.

He was unsure about his chances, as he thought his barrow was too light, but he was wrong.

“I didn’t think I’d be able to do anything with him weighing that light,” he said.

Downing plans to pursue a secondary education in agriculture either at a four year university or Farm and Industry Short Course.

Exhibiting the Reserve Grand Champion Barrow was Erica Langhoff of Wisconsin Rapids. Her 270-pound Yorkshire was purchased by Coca-Cola for $6,500.

Steer Breed Champions

- Champion Maine-Anjou Steer exhibited by Mitchell Wedig of Lafayette County; Winning Bid of $6,000 by Badger State Ethanol

- Champion Shorthorn Steer exhibited by Ty Bayer of Marathon Country; Winning Bid of $5,600 by Wisconsin Souvenir Milk Caps

- Champion Angus Steer exhibited by Kelli Retallick of Grant County; Winning Bid of $6,500 by Halbman, Advance Fun and Swingin’ Door

- Champion Any Other Breed Steer exhibited by Justin Lillesand of Sheboygan County; Winning Bid of $4,750 by Kenosha Beef (Donated to Kenosha County Salvation Army)

- Champion Hereford Steer exhibited by Zachary Huisheere of Rock County; Winning Bid of $3,700 by Imperial Parking and Firewagon Racing

- Champion Registered Dairy Steer exhibited by Victoria Leix of Iowa County; Winning Bid of $2,750 by Saz’s, Leff’s Lucky Town, Zimmerman Design Group, Spectrum Development, Rowbottom Partners, Bunzel’s Meat Market, All City Motors and the Milwaukee Admirals

Lamb Breed Champions

- Champion Suffolk Lamb exhibited by Chantal McReynolds of Iowa County; Winning Bid of $2,000 by Coca-Cola (Donated to the Wisconsin State Fair Park Youth Foundation)

- Champion Natural Colored Lamb exhibited by Chantal McReynolds of Iowa County; Winning Bid of $1,250 by Mary Henke

- Champion Dorset Lamb exhibited by Jase George of Walworth County; Winning Bid of $2,750 by Reproduction Resources, Kegley Show Supplies, Merwin Farms, Bob Handel, John McClellan, Bill Thompson, Wilson Country Meats and Adams Farms (Donated to Wisconsin State Fair Park Youth Foundation)

- Champion Southdown Lamb exhibited by John Jones of Columbia County; Winning Bid of $1,200 by Open Roads Lawn Co., DeLong Co. and Lallemand Animal Nutrition

- Champion Any Other Breed Lamb exhibited by Lauren Ace of Dane County; Winning Bid of $1,500 by Crane Farms (Donated to Wisconsin State Fair Park Youth Foundation)

- Champion Columbia Lamb exhibited by Morgan Zernicke of Marathon County; Winning Bid of $2,000 by Wisconsin State Fair Park Board and Friends n Scott Gunderson, Omar Andrietsch, Craig Barkelar, Rebecca Wickhem House, Martin J. Greenberg, Michelle Nettles, Christine Spella, Kathleen O’Leary, Jeff Plale, Tony Staskunas, Susan Crane, Duane Konkel, Sue Rupnow, and Rod Nilsestuen (Donated to Wisconsin State Fair Park Youth Foundation)

Barrow Breed Champions

- Champion Duroc Barrow exhibited by Jessica Morris of Rock County; Winning Bid of $2,700 by Giant Slide, Inc., Sky Fair Inc., Sunshine Concessions of Hernando, G & G Concessions and Crutchees Concessions (Donated to Wisconsin State Fair Park Youth Foundation)

- Champion Landrace Barrow exhibited by Nicole Gross of Jefferson County; Winning Bid of $3,500 by Harmon Solutions/Todd Chung

- Champion Hampshire Barrow exhibited by Jocelyn Olson of Rock County; Winning Bid of $3,500 by Swine Producers

- Champion Chester White Barrow exhibited by Tierney Reilly of Lafayette County; Winning Bid of $2,750 by Giant Slide, Inc., Sky Fair Inc., Sunshine Concessions of Hernando, G & G Concessions and Crutchees Concessions (Donated to Wisconsin State Fair Park Youth Foundation)

- Champion Poland China Barrow exhibited by Kelsy Lyneis of Ozaukee County; Winning Bid of $2,000 by Saz’s, Leff’s Lucky Town, Zimmerman Design Group, Spectrum Development, Rowbottom Partners, Bunzel’s Meat Market, All City Motors and the Milwaukee Admirals

- Champion Spotted Barrow exhibited by Josh Lowe of Lafayette County; Winning Bid of $2,000 by Budweiser Pavilion

- Champion Berkshire Barrow exhibited by Maise Langholff of Wood County; Winning Bid of $2,500 by Wisconsin State Fair Park Board and Friends n Scott Gunderson, Omar Andrietsch, Craig Barkelar, Rebecca Wickhem House, Martin J. Greenberg, Michelle Nettles, Christine Spella, Kathleen O’Leary, Jeff Plale, Tony Staskunas, Susan Crane, Duane Konkel, Sue Rupnow, Rod Nilsestuen and Cargill Food Service (Donated to Wisconsin State Fair Park Youth Foundation)

- Champion Any Other Breed Barrow exhibited by Raychel Smith of Jefferson County; Winning Bid of $2,750 by Miller Coors, Firewagon Racing and Imperial Parking