Annual Governor’s Sale of Champions

Posted on August 15, 2024
The governor and first lady donated $105,000 for the grand champion steer shown by Kade Gensini (pink shirt), who will be a senior at Putnam County High School. (Dave Dahl/WJBC)

By Dave Dahl

SPRINGFIELD – The Governor’s Sale of Champions closed out Governor’s Day at the Illinois State Fair Wednesday.

State ag director Jerry Costello said it’s what the fair is all about.

“We have incredible animals, some of the best genetics, but, more importantly, the best kids in agriculture in the entire country. It’s an amazing event to highlight our youth in agriculture.”

The governor and first lady donated $105,000 for the grand champion steer shown by Kade Gensini, who will be a senior at Putnam County High School.

The steer, 1,415-pound R.J. (named for a former owner), has a future as a donation to Illinois food banks.

Dave Dahl can be reached at [email protected]

Blogs

Labor Day – Expanding voting rights for all

By Mike Matejka Because of COVID, there is no Labor Day Parade this year.  It’s always a great event for our everyday workers to march proudly down the street and enjoys the festive crowd. If there had been a parade, this year’s Labor Day theme was to be “150 years of struggle: your right to vote.” …

Is federal mobilization the answer?

By Mike Matejka As President Donald Trump threatens to send federal marshals into Chicago, over the objections of Illinois Governor J.B. Pritzker, recall another Illinois Governor who protested the incursion of armed federal personnel into the city.   Those federal troops, rather than calming, escalated the situation, leading to deaths and violence. Illinois poet Vachel Lindsay…

In these troubled times, to my fellow white Americans

By Mike Matejka Our nation is at a unique watershed in human relations. African-Americans have been killed too many times in the past before George Floyd, but the response to this man’s death is international and all-encompassing. I was a grade-schooler during the Civil Rights 1960s. I watched Birmingham demonstrators hosed and the Selma – Montgomery…

Workers’ Memorial Day – Remember those whose job took their life

Looking around our community, when we say employer, most will respond to State Farm, Country, or Illinois State University.   We too often forget those who are building our roads, serving our food, or our public employees. COVID-19 has made us more aware of the risk.  Going to work every day for some people means…