Far left, Rhylee Rodgers, center, enlists the help of her siblings Shay and Layton to hold the banners and honors earned in a history-making trip around the livestock show rings at the 2026 Iowa State Fair. Rodgers showed the Grand Champion and Reserve Grand Champion 4-H Market Hogs and the Grand Champion 4-H Market Steer, shown at left.
Most 4-H and FFA members can only dream of earning entry into the Iowa State Fair Sale of Champions where 16 lucky exhibitors sell their champion livestock to hometown and national supporters. Rhylee Rodgers, 16-year-old from Searsboro, not only earned one entry into the Sale of Champions, but three of her animals achieved champion status, the first time in Iowa State Fair history.
Andrew Arkema, 16-year-old from Sully, also had a record-breaking experience. Arkema earned back-to-back Reserve Grand Champion 4-H Market Heifer, earning another spot in the Sale of Champions, an accomplishment that will go down in the fair history books. In the Sale of Champions, his champion heifer sold for a new record of $63,000, surpassing the old record of $57,500 in 2024.
Rodgers’ Grand Champion Market Steer sold for $55,000, Grand Champion Market Hog brought $19,000, and the Reserve Grand Champion 4-H Market Hog sold for $14,000. It was a fair to remember! The Sale of Champions hit an all-time sale record of $734,000 over the 16 winning entries.
Killduff Hotshots
- Brooklyn Vos: Guernsey Spring Heifer Calf – blue; Guernsey Winter Heifer Calf – purple; Guernsey Winter Yearling Heifer – blue; Guernsey Four-Year-Old Cow – purple.
- Korie Vos: Guernsey Summer Yearling Heifer – purple; Jersey Fall Heifer Calf – blue.
- Raelee Warrick: Commercial Gilt – blue; Visual Arts: Original Art - blue.
Sugar Creek 4-H’ers
- Tyler Conover: Maine-Anjou – 1st, purple.
- Emma Norman: Crossbred Steers – 2nd, purple.
- Gavin Fisk: Crossbred Steers – purple.
- Andrew Arkema: Market Heifers – Reserve Grand Champion, 1st, purple.
- Kate Arkema: Photography - blue.
- Weston Duke: Dairy Goat Showmanship Reserve Champion – purple; Dairy Goats All Other Breeds 4-5 months – blue; Dairy Goat Nigerian Dwarf under 4 months – 1st, purple, 2nd, purple; Dairy Goat Nigerian Dwarf 1-2 years – purple, 1st; Dairy Goat Nigerian Dwarf under 2 years – 2nd, purple; Tree Identification Presentation Board – Iowa Tree Farm Award – blue; Wild Foraged Herbal Tea – blue.
- Morgan Hay: Poster – Dog Sports – red.
- Hayden Lowry: Broilers – Reserve Senior Showmanship; Extem-poraneous Speaking – Excellence; Share the Fun Piano Solo – participation; Baked Cherry Pie & Goal Sheet – blue, Colorful Sewn Card Set and Write-Up – blue; Photography – red.
- Dayton Mortvedt: Reserve Grand Champion Breeding Meat Goats Does under 1 year – Division II Champion, 1st, purple; Market Meat Goats Wethers – Division II Fifth Honorable Mention, Division III Fifth Honorable Mention – 2nd, purple, 2nd, purple (2 entries); Black Face Market Lambs – 1st, purple, 1st, purple, 3rd, purple (3 entries).
- Cameyon James: Reserve Grand Champion Hampshire Gilt; Class Winner Division 1; Open class swine: Duroc gilt-class winner, Yorkshire gilt-class winner; Champion Mini Lop; Champion Champagne d’Argent; Champion and Reserve Champion Havana; Honorable Mention Overall Rabbit; Top 5 Overall Rabbit Class 4; Champion AOB Ewe; Dorset Yearling Ewe - 1st; FFA Reserved Champion feathered leg bantam; Reserve Champion AOCCL bantam; Binder on Weightlifting – blue.
- Corbin Hafkey: Market Beef Heifer – 2nd, purple.
- Brock Mortvedt: Market Meat Goat Wethers – purple; Black Face Market Lambs, 1st, purple, purple (2 entries).
- Briar Brand: Ethanol Education Board – red; Woodworking Folding Bench – blue.
- Breckyn Brand: Lattice Top Peach Pie – blue.
North River Limelighters Club
- Maggie Van Manen: Guided Ranch Riding Horse – 3rd, red; Ranch Rail Pleasure Horse – blue; Horse Showmanship – white.
Adams Champs Club
- Lane Kitzmann: Duroc Breeding Swine – blue; Outdoor Adventures poster – red.
Sheridan Club
- Rhylee Rodgers: Crossbred Steers – Division 2 Champion, 1st, purple; Chianina Market Beef Champion – 1st, purple; Crossbred Market Gilts Champion Lightweight Market Gilt – 1st, purple and Reserve Champion Overall Market Pig; Swine Crossbred Market Barrows Champion Overall Market Pig and Champion Mediumweight Market Barrow – 1st, purple; 1st, purple; 3rd, purple; (3 entries).
- Shay Rodgers: Swine Duroc – 3rd, purple; Crossbred Market Barrows – purple.
Jasper:
- Reagan Fopma: Photography – red.
- Jonah Fopma: 4-H Poster Communication Exhibit – Seal of Merit.
- Mandeesa Vos: Home Improvement – blue; Sewing and Needle Arts: Constructed Item – blue; Food & Nutrition: Prepare Project – blue, Deer Skin Jacket for Drum Stand – blue; Sewn Garments and Accessories – blue.
- Hattie Johnson: Thrifty Meal Challenge – red;
- Jacob Bell: Welding – Chevy Tailgate – blue.
More open class state fair results will be published next week. Please send results/pictures to [email protected].
