Since 1983, the Governor’s Charity Steer Show has raised nearly $6 million for three independent Ronald McDonald House locations in Iowa including Iowa City. This year’s event is set for Saturday, August 9, during the Iowa State Fair in Des Moines with Solon’s Reece Meyer and her steer Whiskey participating.
Reece and Whisky will represent Johnson County and sponsors Johnson County Cattlemen, and Reeve Farms after being selected for one of only 25 spots in the show and auction. The road to Des Moines started in the show ring Wednesday, July 23 in the ring for the beef show of the Johnson County Fair where the pair won 4^th place Grand Champion Market Beef, Champion Johnson County Bred Calf, Champion Rate of Gain Market Beef, Reserve champion Carcass Steer and Reserve Champion Crossbred Steer.
The show begins at 4:30 p.m. in the Livestock Pavilion with the sale (auction) commencing at 5:30 p.m. in the Penningroth Media Center on the Iowa State Fairgrounds. Iowa Public TV will broadcast the show live. Iowa celebrities will show the livestock with Jess Settles, Iowa Hawkeye basketball great, TV analyst, and farmer, taking the halter and parading Whiskey around the ring.
Ahead of the show, Reece will be interviewed on KCJJ, 1630 AM, Friday, August 8 at 8:00 a.m. She is also actively soliciting donations until Tuesday, August 5, for the Ronald McDonald House. Checks should be made out to the Governor’s Charity Steer Show with Reece picking them up in-person. Otherwise donations can be made by contacting the Johnson County Cattlemen through their Facebook page, or texting/calling Keith Marshek (319-330-8340) or Rick Kasper (319-321-2071), or directly to Tiffany Meyer on Venmo.
“I would like to thank Bob and Nancy Upmeyer for allowing me to house my steer at their farm,” said Reece, who added she is also grateful to the Solon community for their support.