Event raises $135,200 for junior producers and the state’s 4-H and FFA education programs
SPRINGFIELD, Ill. – Governor Pat Quinn proved to be a good “arm twister” at Tuesday evening’s Sale of Champion Illinois State Fair livestock and commodities.
“I wish you could raise as much money for the state of Illinois as you have here tonight,” master of ceremonies Orion Samuelson said.
With the encouragement of the governor, three records were broken. The first was for Sarah DeSchepper’s Grand Champion Wether. DeSchepper’s wether was auctioned off for $12,500, beating the previous record by $3,000.
“It’s awesome,” DeSchepper, 18, of Altona, said. “I’ve been here eight times and never done it. I’m glad this could be the year and I could be a part of it.”
The second record was for the sales price of the Land of Lincoln Grand Champion Barrow. It fetched $10,100 for showman Adam Gradert, 13, of Geneseo, or $100 more than the previous mark.
The third record was for Sherman teenager Austin Burris and his Grand Champion Steer. His steer was sold for a whopping $51, 200, breaking the previous record of $50,100.
“I was excited and I couldn’t believe it. It’s unbelievable,” the 18-year-old Burris said.
Joining these three record-breakers was a newcomer. 13-year-old Kenzie Schlipf came to the sale for the first time with her Grand Champion Rabbit Meat Pen.
“It’s a lot to take in and there are a lot of people,” Schlipf, who was all smiles as her meat pen sold for $3,700, said.
Schlipf was accompanied at the auction by her cousin Bodee Schlipf, who exhibited the Grand Champion Barrow. It sold for $16,000.
“It was really lucky. We never thought we’d both be in it,” Kenzie said.
The Grand Champion Poultry Meat Pen brought $3,500 for exhibitor James Banas, 13, of Wimington, while the Grand Champion Meat Goat sold for $3,000. Its exhibitor was 12-year-old Dylan Hummel of Cabery.
The sale raised $135,200 Tuesday night. The junior producers who raised the animals receive 80 percent of the sales price. The remaining 20 percent is divided equally between the 4H and FFA youth education programs.
A list of all the animals sold at the auction as well as their owners, the purchasers, and the amount that each animal sold for follows:
| Product | Exhibitor | Purchaser | Amount |
| Grand Champion Cheddar Cheese | Avanti Foods | Illinois State Auctioneers Association & Farm Credit Services | $600 |
| Grand Champion Cottage Cheese | Prairie Farms (Carbondale, Ill.) | McDonalds of Taylorville (Marty Davis) | $425 |
| Grand Champion Cream Cheese | Swiss Valley Farms | University of Illinois | $750 |
| Grand Champion String Cheese | Kraft Foods (Campbell, N.Y.) | Lee Gaule | $250 |
| Grand Champion Bacon | Erckman’s Processing | Illinois Association of Meat Processors | $600 |
| Grand Champion Ham | Erckman’s Processing | Sorrell’s Farm Supply | $600 |
| Grand Champion Summer Sausage | Thrushwood Farms | Lee Auction Service | $550 |
| Grand Champion Processed Beef | Erckman’s Processing | Cory Craig – Auctioneer | $500 |
| Best of Show Illinois Wine | Prairie State Winery | Illinois Green Industry Association | $1,100 |
| Grand Champion Honey | Christopher Saad | Top Line Farms | $1,300 |
| Grand Champion Doe’s Milk | Evan Jodlowski | Parker Elvidge | $1,200 |
| Grand Champion Rabbit Meat Pen | Kenzie Schlipf | Beck’s Hybrids & Agrivest Inc. | $3,700 |
| Grand Champion Poultry Trio | James Banas | McDonald’s (Marty & Donna Davis Family) | $3,500 |
| Land of Lincoln Supreme Champion Female Print | Allison Telgmann | Prairie Farms | $1,000 |
| Grand Champion Meat Goat Wether | Dylan Hummel | Dr. MacGregor & Family | $3,000 |
| Land of Lincoln Grand Champion Wether | Sarah DeSchepper | Friends of Knox County 4-H, Waste Management, and the Sky Ride | $3,500 |
| Grand Champion Wether | Sarah DeSchepper | North American Midway Entertainment | $12,500 |
| Land of Lincoln Grand Champion Barrow | Adam Gradert | Illinois Purebred Swine Breeders | $10,100 |
| Grand Champion Barrow | Bodee Schlipf | Cargill & Brandt | $16,000 |
| Land of Lincoln Grand Champion Steer | Elaine Richardson | Pioneer Hybrids & Friends of Morgan County 4-H | $30, 700 |
| Grand Champion Steer | Austin Burris | Dekalb, Asgrow, Monsanto, & AT&T | $51,200 |
2011 Illinois State Fair Agriculture Day
Agricultural leaders and supporters gathered on the Director’s Lawn today to celebrate Ag Day at the Illinois State Fair. During a luncheon and ceremony, several individuals and families were recognized for their contributions to Illinois agriculture. The list of awards and recipients is as follows:
| Award | Winner |
| Hall of Fame Award Sponsor: Ill. Agri Women | Jean Ibendahl Tamaroa Perry County |
| Outstanding Woman in Agri Business Sponsor: Ill. Agri Women | Evelyn Thomas with Brandt Pleasant Plains Sangamon County |
| Outstanding Illinois Woman Farmer Sponsor: Ill. Agri Women | Joanie Schone Jacksonville Morgan County |
| Pork Producer Family of the Year Sponsor: Ill. Pork Producers Association | Dunkirk Family Gary and Marietta Dunkirk Dereke and Chelsea Dunkirk Morrisonville Christian County |
| Ill. Beef Association Farm Family of the Year Sponsor: Ill. Beef Association | Kocher Farms Jacob and Anna Kocher Henry Marshall County |
| Outstanding Farm Family – Ill. Farm Bureau Sponsor: Ill. Farm Bureau | Matt and Kim DeBlock Aledo Mercer County |
| Farm Family of the Year – Ill. State Grange Sponsor: Ill. State Grange | Fay and Donna Ellwanger Garden Prairie Boone County |
| Illinois Conservation Farm Family Governor's Award Sponsor: Association of Illinois Soil and Water Conservation Districts | Mark and Marsha Tennis Sumner Lawrence County |
| 2011 Outstanding Sheep Breeder Sponsor: Illinois Lamb and Wool Producers | Mike and Shirley McElvain Heyworth McLean County |
| Ill. Milk Producers' Association Environmental Stewardship Award Sponsor: Ill. Milk Producers' Association | Macomber Dairy Dave and Karen Macomber Lena Stephenson County |
| Service to Illinois Agriculture Sponsor: Farm Credit Services of Illinois | Randy Miller Taylorville Christian County |
| Friend of Agriculture Award – Ill. Extension Agricultural Association Sponsor: Illinois Extension Agricultural Association | Tom Jennings Springfield Sangamon County |
| Best of Show, 2011 Ill. State Fair Wine Competition Sponsor: Ill. Grape Growers and Vintners Association | Prairie State Winery Rick Mamoser Genoa DeKalb County |
| Governor's Cup for Illinois-Grown Table White Wine, 2011 Ill. State Fair Wine Competition Sponsor: Ill. Grape Growers and Vintners Association | Galena Cellars Christine Lawlor White Galena Jo Daviess County |
| Governor's Cup for Illinios-Grown Rose' Wine, 2011 Ill. State Fair Wine Competition Sponsor: Ill. Grape Growers and Vintners Association | Kite Hill Vineyard Barb Bush Carbondale Jackson County |
| Governor's Cup for Illinois-Grown Fruit Wine and Governor's Cup for Illinois -Grown Dessert Wine, 2011 Ill. State Fair Wine Competition Sponsor: Ill. Grape Growers and Vintners Association | Pheasant Hollow Winery Bruce Morgenstern and Denny Franklin Whittington Franklin County |
| Governor's Cup for Illinois-Grown Red Table Wine, 2011 Ill. State Fair Wine Competition Sponsor: Ill. Grape Growers and Vintners Association | Blue Sky Vineyard Jim Ewers and Karen Hand Makanda Jackson County |
| Top Award for Red Table Wine from any Appellation, 2011 Ill. State Fair Wine Competition Sponsor: Ill. Grape Growers and Vintners Association | Hickory Ridge Vineyard Ron Presswood Pomona Jackson County |
| Top Award for White Table Wine from any Appellation, 2011 Ill. State Fair Wine Competition Sponsor: Ill. Grape Growers and Vintners Association | Blue Sky Vineyard Jim Ewers and Karen Hand Makanda Jackson County |
| Top Award for Fruit/Dessert Wine from Any Appellation, 2011 Ill. State Fair Wine Competition Sponsor: Ill. Grape Growers and Vintners Association | Galena Cellars Christine Lawlor White Galena Jo Daviess County |
| Illinoisan of the Day Sponsor: Illinois State Fair Museum Foundation | Brenda Besse Erie Whiteside County |
| Outstanding Tree Farmer of the Year 2011 Sponsor: American Forest Foundation – Ill. Tree Farm Committee | Jerry Mizek Jerry Mizek Elizabeth Jo Daviess County |
| Conservation Stewardship District Conservationist of the Year Sponsor: Ill. Stewardship Alliance | Kent Bohnhoff Bloomington McLean County |
| R.J. Vollmer Sustainable Agriculture Farmer Sponsor: Ill. Department of Agriculture | Jack Erisman Pana Christian County |
| Ill. Leadership Council for Agriculture Education Excellence Award - Education Area Sponsor: lll. Leadership Council for Agricultural Education | Mark Williams Springfield Sangamon County |
| Ill. Leadership Council for Agriculture Education Excellence Award - Agribusiness Area Sponsor: Ill. Leadership Council for Agricultural Education | Bill Davisson Bloomington McLean County |
| Ill. Leadership Council for Agriculture Education Excellence Award - Media Area Sponsor: Ill. Leadership Council for Agricultural Education | Barb Baylor Anderson Edwardsville Madison County |
| Perry Schneider Award of Special Recognition Sponsor: Ill. Leadership Council for Agricultural Educaiton | Randall Lloyd Normal McLean County |
| Perry Schneider Award of Special Recognition Sponsor: Ill. Leadership Council for Agricultural Educaiton | Martha Burris Newman Douglas County |
| Perry Schneider Award of Special Recognition Sponsor: Ill. Leadership Council for Agricultural Educaiton | Susan Kleiboeker Shattuc Marion County |
| Perry Schneider Award of Special Recognition Sponsor: Ill. Leadership Council for Agricultural Educaiton | Carol Jo Beadles Albion Edwards County |
| Perry Schneider Award of Special Recognition Sponsor: Ill. Leadership Council for Agricultural Educaiton | Warren Ribley Springfield Sangamon County |
| Outstanding Elementary Teacher Sponsor: Ag-in-the-Classroom | Dr. Kammie Richter Oakwood Junior High School Danville Vermilion County |
| Excellence in Teaching Award-District 1 Sponsor: Ill. Association of Vo-Ag Teachers | Jay Solomonson Orion High School |
| Excellence in Teaching Award-District 2 Sponsor: Ill. Association of Vo-Ag Teachers | Brandon Tate Ridgeview High School |
| Excellence in Teaching Award-District 3 Sponsor: Ill. Association of Vo-Ag Teachers | Kevin Brannan Carrollton High School |
| Excellence in Teaching Award-District 4 Sponsor: Ill. Association of Vo-Ag Teachers | Marty Niehaus Hillsboro High School |
| Excellence in Teaching Award-District 5 Sponsor: Ill. Association of Vo-Ag Teachers | Lynne Wilson Johnston City High School |
UPCOMING EVENTS: Wednesday, Aug. 17
Governor’s Day
While Governor Quinn attends much of the Illinois State Fair, this is his day to host special guests.
Governor’s Tent: “Innovation Illinois!” – Daily 10 a.m. – 7 p.m.
Visit Governor Quinn’s tent, “Innovation Illinois!,” located at the southeast corner of Main Street and Brian Raney Avenue. Learn about how creative organizations across Illinois are helping the economy and creating the cutting-edge jobs of tomorrow. Interactive displays, demonstrations of emerging technology and a Kid’s Science Korner play area hosted by the Illinois State Museum are featured.
Lt. Governor’s Tent – Lt. Gov. Sheila Simon will feature river creation and farmers markets in her state tent. Visitors can enter a random drawing for a rain barrel, canoe in virtual reality, browse a mini farmers market and pose for a photo in Simon’s kayak. Simon will also perform on her banjo Aug. 17 with her band, Loose Gravel, at 4 p.m. in the Miller Lite tent.
Attorney General’s Tent: Daily from 9:30 a.m. – 8:00 p.m. on Grandstand Ave.
Have you ever wondered what exactly the Attorney General does? Stop by the Attorney General Lisa Madigan’s tent to discover a few fun facts you didn’t know about your Attorney General’s Office!
State Treasurer’s Tent – State Treasurer Dan Rutherford’s Tent will house the programs of the Office of the State Treasurer; specifically highlighting the Bright Start and Cash Dash Programs.
Comptroller’s Tent – Comptroller Judy Baar Topinka will highlight office services and provide computers for residents to “Check for Cash” at the Illinois Office of the Comptroller tent. The state’s Chief Fiscal Officer also will honor Illinois veterans, scouts and other community servants throughout the week.
Grandstand: Oak Ridge Boys with Larry Gatlin and the Gatlin Brothers, 8 p.m.
The legendary Oak Ridge Boys and Larry Gatlin and the Gatlin Brothers will take the stage Wednesday, Aug. 17. The Oak Ridge Boys have won dozens of awards and sold more than 30 million records during their 30 year career. Larry Gatlin and the Gatlin Brothers became one of country music's most successful acts of the 1970s and 1980s.
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