The Biggest of the Big
Despite heavy rain to start the day, the Iowa State Fair opened competition yesterday, and per custom, the biggest animals in three categories were given coveted blue ribbons.
A new fair record was set in the Biggest Ram Competition, with some saying it may qualify for the Guinness Book of World Records. Big Bad Joe is a Suffolk ram shown by Jim Fisher of Mercer, Missouri; Big Bad Joe tipped the scales at 568 pounds, breaking the previous record of 507.5 pounds, set in 2014. You already know how I feel about folks from out-of-state competing in the IOWA State Fair. Joe topped reserve champion Judah, a Columbia ram shown by Abby Wilson of Shell Rock; Judah was a slender-by-comparison 490 pounds.
A close battle in the Biggest Boar Competition, with only six pounds separating the Champion and the Reserve Champion. Zoomer, the Chester/Hampshire boar of Todd Schuler of Atlantic, tipped the scales at 1,246 pounds to win the champion’s crown, besting Red, the Yorkshire/Duroc/Berkshire entry owned by Tom and Terri Bell of Olin, which weighed in at 1,240 pounds. Should have had that second helping for breakfast.
Then came Big E, the 3,026-pound Red Angus bull owned by Brett and TJ Goecke of State Center, which took home honors as the Super Bull. Fair officials say Gary and Barbie Ruebel of Saylorville claimed second place with their 2,834-pound Simmental bull Benny, and Claire and Lynn Henry of Indianola took third place with Ashland, a 2,782-pound Angus bull. Each of them weighed well more than a ton…Super Bull Big E came in at a ton and a half.
Big E will be on display in the Super Bull pen at the Cattle Barn, next to our friends at the Iowa Agribusiness Radio Network. And please note…that’s an actual “Super Bull” as opposed to the load of “Super Bull” many of the politicians will be shoveling during their time at the fair. (The “Biggest Boar” could have applied to the comment, as well.)
