The Pepsi Coliseum hosted its final Indiana State Fair Sale of Champions Saturday night. The venue is scheduled for a complete renovation and will not be available for next year’s fair. A secondary arena will be built and should be ready for the fair. But Steve Simmerman, president of the ISF board of directors, says what happens to the sale is not yet settled.
“We are not settled on whether or not the capacity there is going to be such that we would be able to have an event the size of the Grand Drive and/or the size of the sale, so we’re still working on those details, but I assure we’re going to have something and we’re going to be able to have an event that really celebrates what the sale is all about and what these kids deserve as champions and grand champions here at the state fair.”
Listen to Gary Truitt’s interview with Steve Simmerman:[audio:https://www.hoosieragtoday.com//wp-content/uploads//2012/08/Steve-Simmerman.mp3|titles=Steve Simmerman]
During the sale HAT spoke with Cole Wilcox, owner of the 2012 Grand Champion Steer. Winning the grand champion honor earlier in the week eased a lot of pressure on the 14 year old Lawrence County 4-H’er.
“It’s just kind of amazing because I finished a family tradition where my dad and my aunt and my sister all won it, so it was kind of up to me.”
Was there pressure? “Ya, a lot,” he said.
When you listen to Cole’s description of his steer, which brought $9,500, you might think the cattle judge had an easy choice.
“He’s pretty. He’s hairy. He’s big, massive! Just a dream come true.”
Livestock sale night can be very emotional as 4-H’ers say goodbye to their animals and Wilcox said he was trying hard to keep the emotions in check. But Sammi Brewsaugh from Decatur County was keeping things in perspective after her champion market lamb sold for $6,050.
“I actually feel alright parting with him because I am taking lambs in the fall which is really exciting.”[audio:https://www.hoosieragtoday.com//wp-content/uploads//2012/08/2012-Sale-final-one-in-Coliseum.mp3|titles=2012 Sale final one in Coliseum]
The full rundown on the sale is online. The 2012 sale saw two records broken and raised a total of $155,133.
Hear more from both Sammi and Cole:[audio:https://www.hoosieragtoday.com//wp-content/uploads//2012/08/Sammie-Brewsaugh-and-Cole-Wilcox.mp3|titles=Sammie Brewsaugh and Cole Wilcox]