March 29, 2024

Blue the corn-fed steer to strut his stuff at Iowa State Fair

Where else would a more than 1,000-pound beautiful beefcake of a steer go to strut his stuff than the Iowa State Fair? The Iowa Corn Promotion Board (ICPB) is proud to sponsor Blue the Corn-Fed Steer at 4 p.m. Saturday, Aug, 11, in Pioneer Livestock Pavilion at this year’s Iowa State Fair Governor’s Charity Steer Show. This will mark the 36th year of the show. Accompanying the steer will be ICPB President Duane Aistrope, a farmer from Randolph. Proceeds of the show go to the Ronald McDonald Houses of Iowa.

Blue’s owners, Jordan and Keaton Kralik of Creston, say his favorite feed of choice is ... you guessed it corn. Blue is not alone, corn-fed is the most widely produced type of beef in the U.S. In fact, 1.1 billion bushels of corn went to feed beef cattle in 2017. This assures a consistent year-round supply of high-quality beef with the tenderness and flavor most consumers prefer. Cattle usually spend four to six months in a feedlot, during which they are fed a scientifically-formulated ration of corn or silage, hay and distillers grains.

Find out more about the importance of the livestock industry to Iowa's corn farmers, go to www.iowacorn.org/corn-uses/livestock.