Illinois Fair 'Sale of Champions' Shatters Five Records

By CnAgri2012-08-16 19:42:21 Print

"We're proud of their support," Illinois' Acting Director of Agriculture Bob Flider said after Tuesday's Sale of Champions at the Illinois State Fair. "We're grateful to the buyers, especially during this difficult time for agriculture."

Those buyers opened their wallets and paid record-breaking prices for five animals in the annual auction of prize-winning state fair junior livestock. With encouragement from Flider, Governor Pat Quinn and State Fair Manager Amy Bliefnick, $159,210 was raised for the youngsters who exhibited the animals as well as the state's 4-H and FFA youth education programs.

"We had such a high spirit among the people in attendance here who wanted to do the best for these youngsters showing livestock," Flider said.

All of the champions were overwhelmed with the support, especially twelve-year-old Chelsea Wycoff. Wycoff, of Piper City, was recently diagnosed with Asperger's syndrome, an autism spectrum disorder, and pledged to donate half of the money she earned to Easter Seals.

This announcement led not only to spirited bidding for Wycoff's rabbit meat pen, but also generated more than $6,500 in cash donations to Easter Seals from the crowd when a large bucket was passed. Wycoff's rabbits sold for $6,200, and then were donated and sold again for another $3,400, with the total resale amount going to Easter Seals.