(Radio Iowa) – The 44th Annual Governor’s Charity Steer Show will be held during the 2026 Iowa State Fair — in just 25 days. The proceeds will again benefit the three Ronald McDonald Houses in Iowa that give families a place to stay that’s close to their hospitalized child. Christy Batien Clark is executive director of the Ronald McDonald House in Sioux City.
Jase Plendl of Kingsley is one of the 4-Hers prepping a steer for the show, which is held in the historic Livestock Pavilion on the state fairgrounds.
The steer’s name is Rocco and he’ll be led into the show ring by a celebrity participating in the event — with Plendl right there beside the steer he’s raised since January.
Rocco and all the other steers in the charity show will be auctioned off afterwards. Batien Clark says it’s an amazing event.
The Iowa Cattlemen’s Association, the Iowa Beef Industry Council and the governor’s office co-host the Charity Steer Show, which in the past 43 years has raised over six MILLION dollars for the Ronald McDonald Houses in Sioux City, Des Moines and Iowa City.
