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Hard work pays off for trade fair exhibitors

For several exhibitors at the Wisconsin State Fair on Wednesday night, the hard work paid off.

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

Andis’ Grand Champion Crossbred Steer was the top seller with a high bid of $35,000 from Kenosha Beef. His Champion Simmental Steer was purchased by Meijer for $8,000. “This will help me pay for some of the animal feed and it will definitely help with the steers next year.”

He says preparing animals for shows isn’t easy. “It’s a lot of work, especially if you want to be super competitive. I mean, it’s an everyday thing. You can’t slack off. You have to put in the effort. You have to do the work.” Andis has been showing animals for eight years and has one more year to compete.

Several companies and buyer groups paid top dollar for the champion animals, including Dennis Vigniere of Birchwood Foods in Kenosha. He tells Brownfield, “We want to support the kids. We think it’s very important to get young people qualified for agriculture. So if there’s a way to support these young people, like helping them with college tuition or something like that, then we want to do that.” Vigniere is a third-generation auction buyer at the State Fair, following in his grandfather’s footsteps.

Ken Luety works at Cabin Creek Farms near Clinton, Wisconsin. He says, “We’ve formed some buying groups and our farm has actually made some purchases over the last few years. It’s just great to reward these young guys for their hard work.”

Loren Klitzman is another buyer and he says the animals sold often benefit other causes. “We usually donate the money back. I believe it goes to scholarship funds and then gets processed and donated to another organization.”

Klitzman says showing animals not only earns youth thousands of dollars in exhibitor scholarships, but also gives them structure and a solid work ethic that will help them succeed in the future.

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

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

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

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

The following final statistics for 2024 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 the Wisconsin State Fair’s young livestock exhibitors at the 2024 Governor’s Blue Ribbon Livestock Auction.

This year, the GBRLA provided $40,000 in scholarships and $22,000 for the Wisconsin State Fair’s Junior Exhibitor Showmanship, Knowledge Master Showman and Reserve Champion awards. Funds raised through the Governor’s Blue Ribbon Livestock Auction directly benefit the Wisconsin State Fair’s junior livestock exhibitors.

Below is a list of successful bids:

• Grand Champion Steer (crossbreed) exhibited by Luke Andis of Burlington, winning bid of $35,000 by Kenosha Beef
• Grand Champion Barrow (mixed breed) exhibited by Amanda Miklaszewski of Franksville, winning bid of $22,500 from Interstate Parking Company and Statewide Fencing
• Grand Champion Market Lamb (Hampshire), exhibited by Brayden Bowers of Belmot, winning bid of $21,500 from Molson Coors
• Grand Champion Market Goat (Boer) exhibited by Wyatt Nixon of Delevan, winning bid of $10,000 from Meijer
• Reserve Grand Champion Steer (Mixed Breed) 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 from Meijer
• Reserve Grand Champion Market Lamb (Natural Colored) exhibited by Brayden Bowers of Belmont, maximum bid of $10,000 from 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 from Klondike Farm, Klitzman Seed LLC, Top Notch Feed, Bennett Family, Booze Family, Oma and Opa 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, highest bid of $3,000 from Meijer
• Champion Chianina cattle, 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, high bid of $11,000 from Milwaukee Admirals, Saz’s Hospitality
• Champion Dorset Advantage, exhibited by Ryli Theis of Poynette, winning bid of $10,000 from Alsum Farms & Produce, Dalton Lumber and Supply, Trembling Prairie Farms
• Champion Charolais, exhibited by Landon Rehberg of Elkorn, winning bid of $16,000 from Reproduction Provision and White Gold Cryogenics
• Champion Spotted Barrow exhibited by 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 from Meijer
• Champion Maine Anjou cattle, exhibited by Regan Suddeth of Mineral Point, winning bid of $11,000 from Interstate Parking and Statewide Fencing Inc.
• Champion Berkshire Barrow, exhibited by Isabelle Doherty of Johnson Creek, winning bid of $6,000 from Wisconsin Souvenir Milk Caps
• Champion Dorset Lamb, exhibited by Caleb Tracy of Blue River, winning bid of $4,500 from Reyes Coca-Cola
• Champion Simmental cattle, exhibited by Luke Andis of Burlington, winning bid of $8,000 from Meijer
• Champion Tamworth, exhibited by Annabeth Sprecker of Lone Rock, winning bid of $7,500 from the Wisconsin Pork Association
• Champion Southdown Lamb exhibited by Aubrey Brandt of Rock Springs, winning bid of $5,000 from 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 the Lafayette County Buyers Group
• Champion Hampshire Barrow, exhibited by Sydney Cherney of Wonewoc, winning bid of $11,000 from Impact Hamps
• Champion Oxford Lamb, exhibited by Lainey Popp of Delavan, winning bid of $4,500 from Kase Auto Body and Farmer Brown Swine
• Champion Simmental Low % Steer, exhibited by Kylie Garner of Almond, winning bid of $6,500 from Alsum Farms & Produce, Dalton Lumber and Supply, Trembling Prairie Farms
• Champion Duroc Barrow, exhibited by Kendyll Theobald of Barneveld, winning bid of $6,000 from Case IH
• Champion lamb of any other breed, 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 from Meijer
• Champion Landrace Barrow, exhibited by Landon Rehberg of Elkhorn, winning bid of $4,000 from Polman Family Whitetail Concrete LLC
• Champion Kataddin lamb exhibited by Brianna Strupp of Hartford, winning bid of $4,000 from Klondike Farms and Klitzman Seed LLC
• Champion Angus steer exhibited by Colter Thom of Janesville, winning bid of $18,000 by CT Support Staff
• Champion Poland China Barrow, exhibited by Brandy Long of Darlington, winning bid of $5,000 by the Lafayette County Buyers Group
• Champion Herford steer exhibited by Nolan Eulgen of Waterford, winning bid of $8,500 from 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 from 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
• All other breed champion steer, exhibited by Annabeth Sprecher of Lone Rock, winning bid of $19,500 from 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 Packers Jordan Love Jersey, winning bid of $2,250 from Kenosha Beef
• Sports Package: Framed and signed Watt Brothers football picture and 2 tickets to the Badger football team’s first home game, winning bid of $2,000 from Dalton Lumber and Supply
• Sports Package: Original Jordan Love Autographed Green Bay Packer Helmet and Jordan Love Canvas Print, winning bid of $1,000 from American Food Group
• Sports Package: Signed print by Jordan Love, winning bid of $1,500 from American FoodsGroup

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

3,000 USD Recipient

• Isabelle Doherty from Johnson Creek
• Claire Esselman from Clinton

Recipient of $2,000

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

Recipient of $1,000

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

Recipient of the Dave Koenig Scholarship worth $500

• Julia Lyons from New Auburn