A steer raised by 15-year-old Shanee Tate and sponsored by the Iowa Farm Bureau Federation took top honors at the 2013 Governor's Charity Steer Show at the Iowa State Fair.  Shanee is from Renwick in Wright County.

Iowa Farm Bureau President Craig Hill was the celebrity showman of the winning steer, called Farm Bureau Pride. It was purchased jointly by the 11 central Iowa counties that make up Farm Bureau’s District 5 area.

The show, and the auction that follows, are all part of the Iowa beef cattle industry’s efforts to support the Ronald McDonald Houses of Iowa. These “homes away from home” for families with seriously ill or injured children are located in Sioux City, Des Moines and Iowa City.

The auction raised $182,339, a record amount. "This  is a great demonstration of agriculture’s support for families,” said Doug Bear of the Iowa Beef Council.

 Photo by Gary Fandel