Floyd County tradition continues at charity steer show

By Kelly Terpstra, kterpstra@charlescitypress.com

Call it the Floyd County pipeline or the Bill Northey connection.

Either way, the 36th Annual Governor’s Charity Steer Show at the Iowa State Fair next month is guaranteed one thing — Floyd County representing.

Since 2006 and for the 13th year in a row, Floyd County will have an entry in the prestigious celebrity cattle show that raises money for the Ronald McDonald Houses of Iowa.

They’ll be one change for this year’s Floyd County representative, Alec Staudt from Rockford and his steer, “Bugs” — no Northey.

Northey, who was Iowa’s secretary of agriculture from 2007 until this past March, has moved on to Washington, D.C., to become the U.S. under secretary of agriculture.

Enter into the fray Mike Naig, Iowa’s new secretary.

“I told him this needs to be in the job description,” laughed Matt Hoeft, who helps select the steer from Floyd County every year.

It happened by chance that Floyd County was matched with Northey in 2007, but the pairing stuck and the Floyd County steer has been shown by the state secretary of agriculture ever since. Naig takes over the reins, so to speak, for Northey this year.

“I love that connection for our county with the ag secretary,” said Hoeft, who remembers watching the Governor’s Charity Steer Show on Iowa Public Television as a kid growing up in the ’80s.

Rudd’s Jayden Jorgensen and her steer “Hershey” hooked up with Northey last year to win the showmanship award.

“It’s always a goal to come out on top for our county,” said Amy Staudt.

Amy and Les Staudt own the cross-bred steer Bugs who will be shown by Naig and their son, Alec.

The owner or herdsman of the steer walks behind the celebrity handler.

Bugs got the name because he hopped around like Bugs Bunny when he was younger. Bugs finished second place reserve overall in market beef last week at the Floyd County Fair. Amy and Les also saw one of their other sons, Adam, compete in the charity steer show in 2012.

Alec wrestles, plays football and golf at Charles City High School, where he’ll be a sophomore this fall. He said he has been showing bucket–bottle calves since he was about 10 years old. He’ll show pigs for the FFA at the state fair next month as well.

“It will be real exciting,” said Alec.

Sponsorship and volunteering are also part of the charity steer show.

Alec said he will go to the Ronald McDonald House in Des Moines and talk to the kids and give them support. His time will also be spent doing various chores to help out.

Staudt has “hit the ground running” this week, according to Hoeft, in getting as many sponsorships as he can. It will take a lot of effort to top the 92 sponsors Jorgensen was able to round up last summer — the most money anyone has ever raised for the steer show from Floyd County, Hoeft said.

“She really did an excellent job of getting out, knocking on doors, talking to businesses and families and friends,” said Hoeft.

Hoeft created the Friends of Floyd County. It’s one of the main sponsors, along with the Floyd County Cattlemen’s Association, that has helped not only the surrounding area but any child in need of medical care.

“That’s the best way to call it. They’re friends of Floyd County,” said Hoeft.

The need for the use of one of the Ronald McDonald Houses in Iowa hit home personally for Hoeft and his family a little less than 10 years ago when his youngest son, Cordell, needed surgery when he was only 1 year old.

“We spent quite a bit of time with him in Iowa City at the hospital,” said Hoeft.

Part of the Governor’s Charity Steer Show includes an auction where each steer is sold to the highest bidder. Last year Hoeft, along with Friends of Floyd County, Corporate Farmer and Dunlap Sale Barn, bought back Hershey for $14,700. Any money bid over the fair market price of the steer is donated to the charity foundation.

Former Iowa Gov. Terry Branstad, along with the Iowa Beef Industry Council and the Iowa Cattlemen’s Association, came up with the idea for the charity steer show in 1983.

Celebrity showpersons such as Iowa’s U.S. Senator Joni Ernst, current Iowa Gov. Kim Reynolds, Iowa State head wrestling coach Kevin Dresser and the University of Iowa 2017 NCAA wrestling champ Corey Clark were just some of those at the event last year which set a record for money raised with more than $274,000. 

More than $3 million dollars has been raised by the charity steer show since its inception, all going to the Ronald McDonald Houses in Des Moines, Iowa City and Sioux City.

Reynolds beat out 24 other steers to win overall grand champion with “Smokin’ Willie” last year. The steer was owned by Cody Von Glan from Crawford County.

The 36th Annual Governor’s Charity Steer Show is set for 4 p.m. Saturday, Aug. 11, at the Pioneer Livestock Pavilion on the grounds of the Iowa State Fair.