Lansing 11-year-old chosen to participate in Governor’s Charity Steer Show at Iowa State Fair this Saturday

Donations can be made in support of Brogan Gavin to benefit Ronald McDonald House

The annual Governor’s Charity Steer Show held as part of the Iowa State Fair in Des Moines each year will have some local flair to it this year, as the 42nd annual event takes place at the Livestock Pavilion on the Iowa State Fairgrounds this Saturday, August 10.
Brogan Gavin, 11-year-old son of Tom and Alana Gavin of rural Lansing, and his Angus steer, Johnny, have been selected to participate in this year’s show. They will be one of 24 exhibitor/steer pairs on display during this year’s event, each circling the show ring accompanied by a “celebrity” showperson.

MORE THAN JUST A LIVESTOCK SHOW
In addition to being a showcase for Iowa youth and their livestock, the annual charity steer show ultimately serves as a fundraiser benefiting the Ronald McDonald House Charities of Iowa. Last year’s charity steer show raised $501,000, and to date, the Iowa Governor’s Charity Steer Show has raised over $5.1 million since the event’s inception in 1983.

All money raised benefits the three independent Ronald McDonald House Charities of Iowa, located in Des Moines, Iowa City, and Sioux City. These three houses have served over 55,000 families from all 50 states and 62 foreign countries. Families from all 99 counties in Iowa have benefited from the Ronald McDonald Houses of Iowa.

The Gavins are certainly aware of the benefits of that Ronald McDonald House generosity and convenience, as the family was able to stay at the Ronald McDonald House in Rochester, MN while Brogan was going through treatments after he was diagnosed with T-cell acute lymphoblastic leukemia (ALL) at the age of five.

BEING SELECTED
Many of the participants in the Charity Steer Show are selected through an online application process considered by the Iowa Cattlemen’s Association and Iowa Beef Industry Council, along with specific sponsors of the charity show. However, it was one of those show sponsors who sought out Brogan and Johnny for this year’s show.

Show sponsor Iowa Premium, a National Beef Company, extended an invitation to the Gavin family to have Brogan show Johnny at this year’s Charity Steer Show. Alana Gavin said her husband, Tom, and Iowa Premium’s North Central region cattle procurement specialist Tom Lattimore - whom the Gavins work with in the beef operation on their rural Lansing farm - had previously, in casual conversation, talked about the show and about Brogan’s medical challenges.

“They said Brogan’s experience fits the very reason they are sponsors of the show,” the Gavin family shared of Iowa Premium’s selection of Brogan and Johnny. “We were more than willing to participate, knowing that the show benefits a really great cause - one that we’ve had our own personal experience with.”

National Beef Company offered the following statement in regard to selection of Brogan and Johnny as its sponsored pair for this year’s show: “National Beef is humbled to be one of the sponsors of the Iowa Governor’s Charity Steer Show again this year. This event promotes and supports three key areas that align with our company values of supporting family farmers who raise high quality beef, young people and their families, and Ronald McDonald House Charities.

“There isn’t a more well-suited selection than Brogan Gavin. He and his family know firsthand of the importance of the work of Ronald McDonald House Charities - keeping families close when they need it the most. Our nationwide support of Ronald McDonald House Charities shows up in many ways, but the Governor’s Charity Steer Show is one of our favorites because we also get to celebrate the industry we love.”

FURTHER DETAILS
The charity steer show begins at 4:30 p.m. in the Livestock Pavilion near the center of the Iowa State Fairgrounds, culminating in a final selection of the Overall Champion Steer, People’s Choice, Showmanship and Community Hero Awards. The animals, including Johnny, will then be auctioned off at 5:30 p.m. in the Penningroth Media Center on the Iowa State Fairgrounds, further benefiting Ronald McDonald House Charities.

The public is invited to attend both of those events this Saturday. Those who may not be able to attend in person can catch segments of the show aired by Iowa Public Broadcasting System (PBS) as part of its annual coverage of the Iowa State Fair. The segment featuring the charity steer show is scheduled to be aired Thursday, August 15 at both 9 p.m. and 10 p.m. Another airing is scheduled for Sunday, August 18 at 5 p.m. as part of the Iowa PBS day-long rebroadcast of its Iowa State Fair coverage.

The charity show event is hosted by the Office of the Governor of Iowa, the Iowa Cattlemen’s Association, and the Iowa Beef Industry Council. “The youth exhibitors, their families, sponsors, celebrities, and buyers should be proud of their effort given to this year’s event,” show organizers shared. “Their impact through volunteering, donations, and dedication continues to create successful shows and fundraising outcomes.”

To read the full article, pick up the Wednesday, August 7, 2024 print edition of The Standard or subscribe to our e-edition or print edition by clicking here.