Three Records Set at 2017 Iowa State Fair Sale of Champions
DES MOINES, IA (08/21/2017) (readMedia)-- With a final swing of the gavel, the Iowa Foundation for Agricultural Advancement (IFAA) raised $352,600 for the 16 exhibitors of 4-H and FFA Grand and Reserve Champion livestock in the Sale of Champions Saturday at the 2017 Iowa State Fair.
Three champion records were broken during the 2017 Sale.
The Grand Champion FFA Market Hog stole the show bringing an all-time record for any species with $54,000, selling for $1,000 more than the record in 2016. The Grand Champion 4-H Meat Goat sold for $19,000 and the Grand Champion FFA Meat Goat sold for $16,000 which both set new record prices for each species.
Participants in the Sale of Champions were asked to find hometown support. The purchaser in the auction paid the difference between local support and the final sale price. Each participant in the sale takes home a check for 75 percent of the animal's sale price. The IFAA keeps 25 percent to fund the scholarship program and cover Sale expenses. In addition to their earnings, the exhibitors of the Grand Champion 4-H Market Steer, Grand Champion 4-H Market Hog, Grand Champion FFA Market Lamb and Grand Champion 4-H Breeding Heifer earn the use of a new aluminum livestock trailer for one year courtesy of Featherlite, Inc., of Cresco, Iowa. The Grand Champion 4-H and FFA Market Meat Goats receive aluminum toppers.
In addition to the sale, the IFAA awarded $220,000 in scholarships as well as performance and carcass awards presented prior to the Sale, for a total $574,600 for young livestock exhibitors. Since the inception of the Sale of Champions in 1988, the IFAA has given out more than $7.5 million through Sale proceeds and scholarships to deserving youth participating in agricultural-related projects and interested in agricultural-related careers.
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2017 Shatters Iowa State Fair All-Time Attendance Record
DES MOINES, IA (08/21/2017) (readMedia)-- Nothing compares to the Iowa State Fair, and the 2017 Iowa State Fair was a chart topper.
For eleven nearly perfect days for an August in Iowa, an estimated, unaudited 1,130,071 of people visited the 2017 Iowa State Fair. The 2017 numbers toppled the 1,117,398 attendance number from 2015. This year was up from the 2016 total of 1,031,278 with both Saturdays in 2017 alone topping 120,000 attendees.
A breakdown of the record setting daily attendance for 2017 is listed below:
Thursday, August 10 – 86,408
Friday, August 11 – 103,424
Saturday, August 12 – 120,833
Sunday, August 13 – 112,396
Monday, August 14 – 105,522
Tuesday, August 15 – 96,863
Wednesday, August 16 – 95,322
Thursday, August 17 – 96,015
Friday, August 18 – 97,958
Saturday, August 19 – 120,616
Sunday, August 20 – 94,714
The Iowa State Fair, started in 1854, first topped the million attendee mark in 2002 and has experienced slight ups and downs in attendance since. Long standing attendance record 1,109,150 set in 2008 was recently topped in 2015 with 1,117,398.
The 2017 Iowa State Fair was held August 10-20. Plans are already in the works for the 2018 Iowa State Fair set for August 9-19, 2018.
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FFA Photographer from Radcliffe Wins Best of Show at Iowa State Fair
DES MOINES, IA (08/21/2017) (readMedia)-- FFA members competed in the Photography contest judged Wednesday prior to the start of the 2017 Iowa State Fair.
Sidney Friest of Radcliffe received Best of Show honors while Madison Fishback of Washington nabbed the Reserve Best of Show title. Lillian Trumm of Cascade won State Exc. Sec/ Treasure's Selection and Jordyn Sanders of Bussey won the State Advisor's Selection.
Additional results below:
Black & White/Toned
1) Lexy Risdal, Ames
2) Olivia Erenberger, Solon
3) Mary Lindsey, Leon
4) Maisie Hughes, Eddyville
5) Ryin Lehmann, Clermont
Color
1) Mary Lindsey, Leon
2) Lucas Looney, Wheatland
3) Michael DeDecker, Altoona
4) Haley Sweeting, Riverside
5) Kara Gnade, Monmouth
Animals-Birds-Wildlife
1) Madison Fishback, Washington
2) Jenna Kauzlarich, Knoxville
3) Shelby McDonald, Vinton
4) Ashley VanderHeiden, Wheatland
5) Makailynn Ries, Anamosa
Still Life Compositions
1) Hannah Holdsworth, Denison
2) Mickayla McGill, Knoxville
3) Sara Wede, Treynor
4) JP Crowley, Delmar
5) Alyssa Snider, West Liberty
Iowa Landscape
1) Jodie Mausser, Masonville
2) JP Crowley, Delmar
3) JP Crowley, Delmar
4) Sidney Friest, Radcliffe
5) Madyson Smithson, Ladora
Landscape Outside Iowa
1) Sidney Friest, Radcliffe
2) Alexis Boes, Atlantic
3) Jaemi Hartman, Malcom
4) Pauline Clark, West Union
5) Rachel Maloy, Ottumwa
Plants
1) Makenzie Fay, Wellman
2) Gabrielle Brown, Hudson
3) Breanna Duehring, Wadena
4) Shea Hassebrock, Jewell
5) Colby Holmes, Cascade
FFA
1) Karlee Ihde, West Union
2) Cambrie Lane, Spragueville
3) Makinze Richards, Sumner
4) Keegan Bethards, Decatur
5) Nicole Rolfes, Redfield
Supervised Agricultural Experience
1) Lane Anderson, Bussey
2) Erin Patterson, Gilman
3) Avery Tauke, Earlville
4) Seth Deutmeyer, Edgewood
5) Kaleb Miller, Lacona
Agricultural Photo Essay
1) Jenny Petersen, Knoxville
2) Mickayla McGill, Knoxville
3) Mickayla McGill, Knoxville
4) Shea Hassebrock, Jewell
5) Madi Fear, Yale
Contemporary/Creative
1) Kayla Mattick, Lyle, Minn.
2) Sophia Weaver, Riceville
3) Megan Corkery, Independence
4) Kayla Mattick, Lyle, Minn.
5) Brookelyn Harned, West Liberty
Theme Class
1) Jordyn Sanders, Bussey
2) Jade Oberhelman, Kanawha
3) Hollie Nelson, Lockridge
4) Hannah Himrod, Dakota City
5) Marta Grant, Preston
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Frequently ranked as one of the top events in the country, the Iowa State Fair is the single largest event in the state of Iowa and one of the oldest and largest agricultural and industrial expositions in the country. Annually attracting more than a million people from all over the world, the Iowa State Fair located at East 30th and East University, just 10 minutes from downtown Des Moines is Iowa's greatest celebration with a salute to the best in agriculture, industry, entertainment and achievement. "Nothing Compares" to State Fair Thrills, August 10-20, 2017. For more information, visit www.iowastatefair.org
