SPRINGFIELD, IL (WSIL) -- Being in the Sale of Champions at the Illinois State Fair is something livestock exhibitors hope to accomplish. Each year, this marquee event of the Illinois State Fair Ag Day festivities showcases the hard work and dedication of the youth in the agriculture industry.
For the third year, Governor JB Pritzker ended up in a bidding war for the Grand Champion Steer with none other than his wife, First Lady MK Pritzker. He drove up the price, but it was the First Lady who took home the Grand Champion Steer with a bid of $105,000, tying the record she set in 2021.
In addition to being spotlighted before the crowd on Tuesday night, these Grand Champion exhibitors, along with the 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.聽
CME Group also realizes the importance of education, which is why they have donated $50,000 in scholarships to this year鈥檚 Sale of Champions and for last decade. 2021 Below are the results of the 2022 Commodity Auction and the 2022 Sale of Champions. It should be noted that the Grand Champion Steer will be donated to the Central Illinois Foodbank.
Other Best in Show and Grand Champions include:
- Best of Show Wine: Blue Sky Vineyard
- Land of Lincoln Grand Champion Market Lamb:聽Nalaney Guyer
- Grand Champion Market Lamb:聽Carter Hoge
- Land of Lincoln Grand Champion Barrow:聽Ella Bobell
- Grand Champion Barrow:聽Drake Fletcher
- Land of Lincoln Grand Champion Steer:聽Cole Caldwell
