Ruzicka and Peaches continue Floyd County Governor’s Charity Steer Show trend

By Bob Steenson, bsteenson@charlescitypress.com

Nineteen years. That’s how long a representative of Floyd County has been showing a steer in the Governor’s Charity Steer Show at the Iowa State Fair.

This year’s showman will be Brennan Ruzicka of Marble Rock, with his steer, Peaches.

Brennan said he named the steer because of its color, which was also one of the things that attracted his family to the animal.

“We really, really liked the colors,” said Brennan’s dad, John, who said that sometimes they show the cattle they raise, sometimes they buy them. Peaches was purchased in South Dakota.

Getting a calf ready to show can be quite an ordeal, John said, including daily baths – with lots of conditioner – and blow drying to help develop long soft hair. When your kids are also involved in school and sports, it means getting up before sunrise to begin that daily routine.

They began showing Peaches as a calf, and he most recently was named grand champion market beef at the Floyd County Fair.

The Governor’s Charity Steer Show is an invitation-only event that raises money to help support the Ronald McDonald House Charities of Iowa. Part of being in the show includes helping raise money toward that cause, then spending part of a day while at the fair at a Ronald McDonald House.

Brennan said they have raised about $24,000 in donations so far and are still going. Persons interested in donating or sponsoring Peaches can go to Friends of Floyd County on Venmo, can contact Brennan at 641-330-6010 or John Ruzicka at 641-330-1240, or can mail a check to Friends of Floyd County at 2190 250th St., Marble Rock IA 50653.

John Ruzicka said he’d like to thank Aces Bar and Grill in Rockford for buying Peaches at the auction at the Floyd County Fair, knowing that the steer would be actually be sold again at the auction after the Governor’s Charity Steer Show.

Since the Charity Steer Show started in 1983 it has raised more than $5.1 million for the Ronald McDonald House Charities of Iowa, and the homes in Des Moines, Iowa City and Sioux City that provide a place for families to stay while a child is receiving care.

Brennan said they have been showing animals at the Iowa State Fair for about 10 years. He had thought about showing pigs in addition to cattle this year, but dropped that idea when they learned he would be in the Charity Steer Show.

He said he is looking forward to the time he would get to spend at a Ronald McDonald House and “the whole experience” of the event.

The family will leave for the State Fair next Wednesday, Aug. 7, and weigh-in is Thursday morning, Brennan said. The show Saturday, Aug. 10, begins at 4:30 p.m. in the Livestock Pavilion, with the auction at 5:30 p.m. in the Penningroth Media Center.

The “celebrity” who will be showing Peaches along with Brennan is Iowa Secretary of Agriculture Mike Naig. The Iowa ag secretary has traditionally been paired with the Floyd County steer.

John Ruzicka invited anyone interested to attend the Charity Steer Show and help cheer on Brennan, Sec. Naig and Peaches.

Matt Hoeft, Floyd County Cattlemen member who picks the county’s steer each year for the State Fair show, said he’s proud of the 19-year tradition, because the show is an invitation-only event.

The last two years have set new high levels for the amount of money raised by the Floyd County entry, and Hoeft said he hopes that tradition continues this year.