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2019 Scholarship Recipents and Scholarship Donors

The Blue Ribbon Sale of Champions Foundation is offering $30,000 in 2020 scholarship awards. There will be five $2,000 scholarships, six $1,500 awards, seven $1,000 scholarships, and eight $500 scholarships. These scholarships recognize the achievements of Wisconsin State Fair Junior Livestock exhibitors and assist them with their educational expenses. 

We request that all applicants complete and return a Blue Ribbon Sale of Champions Foundation Scholarship Application online to be submitted no later than Wednesday, April 15, 2020.

2020 GBRLA Scholarship Application and Information.Revised_KNL.pdf

2019 Scholarship Recipients with Scholarship Fund Donors & Bucky

The winners of $30,500 worth of scholarship from the 2019 Governor’s Blue Ribbon Livestock Auction Scholarships have been announced.   The Foundation awarded five $2000 awards, six $1500 awards, six $1000 scholarships and ten $500 scholarships – plus a special one-time $500 Rudy VanFleet Memorial Award. Scholarship recipients were presented with a certificate of recognition during the Governor’s Auction on Wednesday evening at the Wisconsin State Fair. 

This year’s top scholarships were awarded to Brianna Jones, Big Bend; Danny Pittz, Mineral Point; Ashlyn Schnell, Bonduel; Clayton Walsh, Lyndon Station; and Stephanie Witberler, Edgar.  Receiving $1500 scholarships are Laura Ellsworth, Elkhorn; Bree Gaffney, Barneveld; Sara Johnson, Delavan; Brody Jones, Big Bend; Brady Palzkill, Mineral Point; and Vanessa Roberts, Whitelaw.  The $1000 winners are Ceara Cull, Hartland; Anna Kitzerow, Cascade; Sierra Koski, Loyal; Erin Rose Montgomery, Waupaca; Cole Weinkauf, Waterford; Brooke Welke, Osseo; and Danielle Zukowski, Menomonie.  Rounding out the recipients were the $500 scholarship winners, Lucas Graff, Markesan; Megan Hand, Sheboygan Falls; Wylie Jackson, Kenosha; Autumn King, Big Bend; Mariah Richardson, Dousman; Savannah Siegler, Burlington; Kyle Vondra, Mineral Point; and Brandon Weigel, Platteville.

Additionally for 2019, the Rudy VanFleet memorial scholarship was presented to honor the late Rudy VanFleet, who served as WI State Fair swine superintendent for many years. The recipient was selected based on their involvement in the swine industry and participation in state fair, as well as their overall leadership skills. Stephanie Witerberler of Edgar was selected to receive this one-time award.

Given on an annual basis, the recipients are recognized for their leadership skills, academic achievements, accomplishments as Wisconsin State Fair Junior Livestock exhibitors and potential as future contributors to the livestock industry.  The awards are used to assist them with their educational expenses. 

The Blue Ribbon Sale of Champions Foundation manages the Governor’s Blue Ribbon Livestock Auction to provide a platform for enhancing and strengthening the agriculture community of Wisconsin, and to foster better understanding of the agriculture industry throughout our society.

We rhank the 2019 Scholarship Donors: Alsum Farms & Produce, American Foods Group, Caribbean Smoothies, Crane Farms, Dalton Lumber, Giant Slide, Inc., Houdini's Escape, Meijer, Milwaukee Bucks, Premier Insurance Solutions, Siggy's Wild Dog Saloon, Skyfair Inc, Trembling Prairie Farms, II Dog Enterprise, We Energies.

 Governor Tony Evers and First Lady Kathy Evers

The Blue Ribbon Sale of Champions Foundation and Wisconsin State Fair Officials welcomed Governor Tony Evers and First Lady, Kathy Evers to their first Governor's Blue Ribbon Livestock Auction. At the conclusion of another successful event, the Governor’s Blue Ribbon Livestock Auction, at the 2019 Wisconsin State Fair, raised a total of $255,850.

“Funds raised at the Governor's Blue Ribbon Livestock Auction support the Blue Ribbon Sale of Champions Foundation’s mission to educate and support the Wisconsin State Fair youth livestock exhibitors”, says Bob Johnson, President of the Blue Ribbon Sale of Champions Foundation. “These youth are the future of the Wisconsin livestock industry and we were overwhelmed with the generosity of our auction supporters.” $30,500 in scholarship awards as well as an additional $30,000 to fund Wisconsin State Fair Junior Exhibitor Showmanship, Knowledge Master, and Reserve Champion Awards are awarded annually.

Bucky Badger and The Echoes of Camp Randall kicked off the event, leaving the crowd energized as the first animal stepped onto the stage to sell. The bidding commenced and auctioneer Gary Finley started the night by selling the Grand Champion Steer, weighing in at 1,333 lbs., exhibited by Riley Runkel and sold to Meijer for $47,500.

Congratulations to all of the Wisconsin State Fair Junior Exhibitors who sold their animals in the

2019 Governor's Blue Ribbon Livestock Auction. 

• 2019 Grand Champion Steer 2019 Grand Champion Steer
• Grand Champion Barrow Grand Champion Barrow
• Grand Champion Market Lamb Grand Champion Market Lamb
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• Reserve Grand Champion Steer Reserve Grand Champion Steer
• Reserve Grand Champion Barrow Reserve Grand Champion Barrow
• Reserve Grand Champion Market Lamb Reserve Grand Champion Market Lamb
•  

Below is the list of winning bids:

 Grand Champions

• Grand Champion Steer (Maine-Anjou) exhibited by Riley Runkel of Racine County, Winning bid of $47,500 by Meijer
• Grand Champion Barrow (Crossbred) exhibited by Logan Schmitz of Iowa County, Winning bid of $14,000 by Beer Capitol Distributing
• Grand Champion Market Lamb (Crossbred) exhibited by Trenna Cherney of Juneau County, Winning bid of $7,500 by Great Lakes Coca-Cola

Reserve Grand Champions

• Reserve Grand Champion Steer (Crossbred) exhibited by Lauren May of Iowa County, Winning bid of $22,000 by Kenosha Beef/ Birchwood Foods.
• Reserve Grand Champion Barrow (Chester White) exhibited by Chase Cherney of Sauk County, Winning bid of $8,000 by Statewide Fencing and Interstate Parking.
• Reserve Grand Champion Market Lamb (Crossbred) exhibited by Jacee Johnson of Walworth County, Winning bid of $8,000 by We Energies.

   Breed Champions

• Champion Chianina Steer exhibited by John Henderson of Racine County, Winning bid of $16,000 by Andis Co.
• Champion Yorkshire Barrow exhibited by Dalton Bennett of Pepin County, Winning bid of $8,000 by Case IH.
• Champion Hampshire Lamb exhibited by Kassandra Palzkill of Lafayette County, Winning bid of $4,500 by Giant Slide, Skyglider, Caribbean Smoothies, Siggy’s Wild Dog Saloon,and       II Dog Enterprises
• Champion Shorthorn Steer exhibited by Clair Duch of Waupaca County, Winning bid of $7,500 by Beechwood Sales & Service and Milwaukee Brewing Co.
• Champion Duroc Barrow exhibited Michael Sleik of Winnebago County, Winning bid of $8,000 by Saz’s Hospitality Group
• Champion Shropshire Lamb exhibited by Halie Schwab of Grant County, Winning bid of $4,250 by Porktoberfeast: Leff’s Lucky Town, Bunzel’s Meat Market, Blue Moon Tavern at the Park, Trawicki Electric, Zimmerman Architectural Studios/ Harwood Engineering, All City Motors, Bruce Westling (MLG), Steve & Nancy Sazama, and Major Goolsbys
• Champion AOB Steer exhibited by Cade Austin of Rock County, Winning bid of $12,500 by Interstate Parking and Statewide Fencing
• Champion Berkshire Barrow exhibited by Cate Cherney of Sauk County, Winning bid of $5,000 by Porktoberfeast: Leff’s Lucky Town, Bunzel’s Meat Market, Blue Moon Tavern at the Park, Trawicki Electric, Zimmerman Architectural Studios/ Harwood Engineering, All City Motors, Bruce Westling (MLG), Steve & Nancy Sazama, and Major Goolsbys
• Champion Suffolk Lamb exhibited by Kane Howlett of Rock County, Winning bid of $3,000 by MillerCoors
• Champion Hereford Steer exhibited by Taylor Schaefer of Racine County, Winning bid of $7,000 by Beechwood Sales & Service
• Champion Tamworth Barrow exhibited by Landon Rehberg of Walworth County, Winning bid of $3,500 by Saz’s, Catalano’s, Grebe’s Bakery, Melotte Meats, and Milwaukee Admirals
• Champion Natural Colored Lamb exhibited by Cate Cherney of Sauk County, Winning bid of $2,500 by Meijer
• Champion Angus Steer exhibited by Jacob Ellerbrock of Kenosha County, Winning bid of $22,500 by Wisconsin Souvenir Milkcaps, Halbman Company, Minor's Garden Center, Advance Fun Technology, Meijer, Witel LLC, Bob May Show Cattle, Mindemann Farms, Bloomington Livestock, Fernvale Angus, Weigel’s Steer Pit, WS Ag, Country Lane Farms, Thornberry Angus, 2K Cattle Company, Gaffney Family Cattle, Hill Valley Farms, Henning Farms, KCJ Angus, Premier Angus, Bacon Branch Beef, and Bob Lannin
• Champion Spotted Barrow exhibited by Kyle Vondra of Iowa County, Winning bid of $4,000 by Wisconsin Pork Producers, Taylor Crouch Show Pigs and Bloomington Livestock
• Champion Oxford Lamb exhibited by Brooke Ace of Dane County, Winning bid of $2,000 and Middleton Ford
• Champion Simmental Steer exhibited by Kyle Lois of Kenosha County, Winning bid of $3,500 by Wisconsin Souvenir Milk Caps
• Champion Poland China Barrow exhibited by Cate Cherney of Sauk County, Winning bid of $2,000 by Taylor Crouch Show Pigs
• Champion Dorset Lamb exhibited by Brannt Balfanz of Racine County, Winning bid of $1,000 by Meijer
• Champion Registered Dairy Steer exhibited by Bradin Bjelland of Oconto County, Winning bid of $12,500 by American Foods Group
• Champion Hampshire Barrow exhibited by Isabelle Doherty of Jefferson County, Winning bid of $2,000 by Klitzman Seed
• Champion Southdown Lamb exhibited by Vanessa Roberts of Manitowoc County, Winning bid of $1,300 by Kewaskum Foods
• Champion Landrace Barrow exhibited by Landon Rehberg of Walworth County, Winning bid of $1,250 by Middleton Ford
• Champion AOB Lamb exhibited by MacKenna Slater of Rock County, Winning bid of $5,000 by MillerCoors and Porktoberfeast: Leff’s Lucky Town, Bunzel’s Meat Market, Blue Moon Tavern at the Park, Trawicki Electric, Zimmerman Architectural Studios/ Harwood Engineering, All City Motors, Bruce Westling (MLG), Steve & Nancy Sazama, and Major Goolsbys
• Champion Hereford Barrow exhibited by Zoey Heimmermann of Outagamie County, Winning bid of $5,000 by Meijer

Sports Memoribilia

• A one-of-a-Kind, signed, framed and matted  Milwaukee Bucks Jersey by Giannis Antetokounmpo, 2019 NBA Most Valuable Player Recipient, donated by Beer Capitiol Distributing, was purchased by Witel LLC for $1,300
• A signed and framed  Milwaukee Brewers Jersey by Christian Yelich, MLB's 2018 Most Valuable Player.  The package also included a special opportunity for four to watch Brewer's Batting Practice on the field and four Club Level tickets, donated by Beer Capitol Distributing and the Milwaukee Brewers, was purchased by John Yingling for $1,700
• Wisconsin's MVP's.  A fantastic framed and signed print of recent MVP players including Christian Yelich, Giannis Antetokounmpo and Aaron Rogers, donated by Beer Capitol Distributing, was purchased by Jim & Mary Quade Farm for $1,250
• A Large canvas print of Milwaukee Bucks Giannis Antetokounmpo honoring his MVP season Award, donated by Beer Capitol Distributing, was purchased by Bravo Auctions for $800

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