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Governor's Charity Steer Show

History of the Event

The 40th annual Governor’s Charity Steer Show raised over $440,000 for the Ronald McDonald House Charities of Iowa.  The money raised benefits the Ronald McDonald Houses of Des Moines, Iowa City, and Sioux City.  All of the houses are located near hospitals and provide a “home away from home” for families of seriously ill children. The Iowa Beef Industry Council and the Iowa Cattlemen’s Association sponsor the annual steer show and auction.

Since its inception in 1983, the Governor’s Charity Steer Show has raised over $5 million for the Ronald McDonald Houses of Iowa.

For additional information email twlautner@dmacc.edu and check out these pages:

How the Event Works

Steers are purchased by GCSS participants (such as DMACC) from an Iowa 4-H member upon the completion of their respective county fair. From there the 4-H member takes care of the animal until the ​Iowa State Fair (ISF) where the animal is weighed in and shown by each participant's "Celebrity" with the help of the 4-H member. All participating GCSS 4-H members and their family are urged to spend the day volunteering at the Ronald McDonald house the Friday before the show. The GCSS event takes place the first Saturday of ISF. The animals are shown and evaluated by the beef judge and then immediately sold in the charity auction upon completion of the show. All proceeds from the charity auction go to the Ronald McDonald Houses of IA.

DMACC has been a proud participant of the annual event since early 2000. In fact, DMACC holds the record for the 2nd and 4th highest selling steers in the charity auction's 35 year history at $31,000 (new high record in 2015) and $25,000 respectively. This would not be possible without the help of many "Friends of DMACC" willing to make a tax deductible donation to a great organization during this event. New all time sale records continue to be set and broken year after year, in the end the money goes to a great cause in the Ronald McDonald Houses of Iowa.

If you would like to make a tax deductible donation that showcases Iowa Agriculture during the Iowa State Fair, and more importantly impacts thousands of families that find themselves in hardship regarding the health of their children, we ask that you consider donating to this event by contacting Travis Lautner:

Travis Lautner
25747 N Ave
Adel, IA 50003
twlautner@dmacc.edu
(515) 370-3772 Cell

Past Entries

Sponsor: Des Moines Area Community College 
Celebrity: Dr. Rob Denson, Des Moines Area Community College, President​
Exhibitor: Avery Beisell, of Spirit Lake​ 
​Steer: Rock Enroll
Total: $18,382  
Buyers: James Oil Company and DMACC Additional Donors: Brad & Paige Grandgeorge, Travis and Megan Lautner, Dodds Family, Munson Family, Zach & Hillari Klaver, Mickey Cooper, W. Ken Stoakes Accounting, Hanson & Sons Tires, Ozinga Feed Services, Inc., Jay & Daphne Pogges, Eagle Grove Chiropractic, First State Bank/Town & Country Insurance, Woodin Cattle Company, Jake Grandgeorge, Bob & Camilia Grandgeorge, Wright County Cattlemen, Whaley Cattle, Gold Eagle Coop, Don & Sue Grandgeorge, Rob & Chris Kastler, Jill & Korey Link, Terry Link, Alice Grandgeorge, Andy Spellmeyer, Larry & Shorty Anderson, Brad & Paige Grandgeorge, Evelyn Grandgeorge, Wyffels Hybrids, Terry & Susan Jones, Odendahl Family, Jamie Baraibar, Umscheid Acres, Tracy Hoben, Dielschneider Family, Paige May @ Aspasia, Karina Palmquist, Natalie Bradburn, Alyssa Allbee, Kolegraff Family, Trish Dahm, Karen Bauermeister, Mary Smith, Bryan Beisell, Jungmann Family, Jay & Karri Anderson, Russ & Shelley Beisell, Lois Clark, Koach Allstars, Yoli, Ashley, Bailey, Brad Sanders, Duane Wilson, WC Financial Bank, United Coop, Stein Heating & Cooling, Schreiber Ag Service, Inc., Wright County Fairboard, Tricia Rosendahl, Kenny Hammer Family, Rodney & Sally Legleiter, Precision Farm Management, Brook & Jana Beisell, Indian Motorcycle, WMTel, Nelson Family, Nielsen Seed, Brett Beisell, Beck Family, Random Dollar Donation, Rich & Joyce Rath, Susan Jones, Lynsey Spangler, Kyle Sinz, and Randy & Lori Vanscoy​psum

2021 Steer

Sponsor: Des Moines Area Community College 
Celebrity: Craig McEnany, Retired Chair at DMACC 
Exhibitor: Cale VanSickle 
​Steer: Holiday 
Total: $15,000  
Buyer: Jam​es Oil Company, Stine Seed Company, and Craig and Lisa McEnany Family 
Additional Donors: 

  • Peterson Crop Insurance
  • Brad and Mary Eslick
  • Mickelson Seed & Chemical, LLC
  • Agwest Commodities, LLC
  • Vetter Equipment
  • Security Savings Bank, and
  • ​Friends of Cale VanSickle ​

2020

Borkowski Family - Sale Price $17,500. Thank you James Oil and James Simmentals. for purchasing the steer through the Ronald McDonald charity auction. 

Thank you to the following donors:

  • Borkowski Farms
  • Availa Bank
  • BN Brokerage
  • Bowman Trucking
  • Cargill Animal Nutrition - Matt Jannsen
  • Rob and Pat Denson
  • Glidden Community Auction
  • Glidden Ralston FFA Alumni
  • L Stork Farms
  • Reever Family Farms
  • Travis and Megan Lautner
  • Richland Hotshots 4-H Club
  • United Bank of Iowa - Glidden
  • DMACC (DMACC Agribusiness)
  • James Oil
  • James Simmentals

2019

Forsyth Family - Sale Price $9,500 and steer placed Top 5 Judges Choice. 

Thank you James Oil Company for purchasing the steer through the Ronald McDonald charity auction.

2018

Washington Family - Sale Price $9,000 plus $500 added on after sale.

Thank you to James Oil Company for the continued support of the DMACC steer throughout the past 17 years! (This calf was chosen out of the DMACC Farm's calf crop.)

2017

Auxier and Leer Family Farms and Alyssa Rhum Family - Sale Price $23,000
​(2nd highest selling steer of 2017 GCSS)

2016

Albaugh Family - Sale Price $16,000

2015

Eslick Family - Grand Champion Judges Choice - Sale Price $31,000 (new sale record to date as of 2015)