The Dean’s Charity Steer Show, an annual event that benefits Ronald McDonald House Charities (RMHC) of Central Ohio, is set for Tuesday, July 30, at 2 p.m. in the Voinovich Livestock & Trade Center on the Ohio Expo Center and State Fairgrounds.
The event is hosted by The Ohio State University College of Food, Agricultural, and Environmental Sciences (CFAES) and Cathann A. Kress, vice president for agricultural administration and dean of CFAES, along with The Ohio Cattlemen’s Association, The Ohio State Fair, and Telhio Credit Union.
The 2023 show raised $172,709 for RMHC. “Each donation we receive plays a crucial role in enabling families to remain near their hospitalized child, providing essential support during a challenging period,” said Cathann A. Kress, Ohio State vice president for agricultural administration and dean of CFAES. “This wonderful event brings our community together to honor agriculture and children, including our 4-H youth and families of ill children who are supported by the Ronald McDonald House.”
The Columbus Ronald McDonald House recently completed a major expansion, more than doubling the size of the facility. Two new wings opened in November, making it the largest Ronald McDonald House in the world, with 206 guest rooms, a new kitchen and dining facility, new staff offices, and a community event room.
At the Steer Show, 11 teams, consisting of a team captain, team champion(s), and experienced Ohio 4-H youth, will not only show a steer during the show but also compete to see who can raise the most money for RMHC of Central Ohio. Team members will practice with their experienced 4-H’er and their steer before entering the arena. To learn more and donate to your favorite team, visit rmhc-centralohio.org/events/dcss.
The following 11 Ohio 4-H youth development families will be participating with their bovines: Trace Bryan and family from Hancock County, Bentlee Clem and family from Clark County, Hayden Smith and family from Holmes County, Barrett Evans and family from Tuscarawas County, Meredith Donnelly and family from Hardin County, Luke Lukowski and family from Stark County, Jack Stingley and family from Clinton County, Kaylee Jennings and family from Clermont County, Gage Farrar and family from Jackson County, Brandon Sachara and family from Wayne County, and Victoria Hiler and family from Crawford County.
Teams include Dan Mueller, vice president of tax at American Electric Power, partnered with Spectrum New 1 anchor Chuck Ringwalt; Josh Corna, CEO and owner of Continental Building Company, partnered with Colin Dorsey of 10TV; Mike Cohn, vice president of network operations at CoverMyMeds, partnered with Dan Wilson, owner of Wilson 1 Communications where he hosts multiple shows; Ashley Englefield DeWitt, vice president of merchandising and marketing for Englefield, Inc. with team members Nathan Arnold, Danielle Barker, Michelle Brown, and Emma Tipton, are partnered with Wild Walley Schneider from WCLT T-100.3 in Newark; Maggie Ferrence, senior vice president, Business Banking Credit, Ops & SBA director at Huntington National Bank, is supported by Christina Brown, Huntington National Bank’s regional director of community philanthropy and engagement, and they are partnered with 10TV anchor Yolanda Harris; Scott White, president and chief executive officer of IGS Energy is paired up with farming social media influencer Zoe Kent; family members Kelly, Carrie, & Shayne Applegarth are all leaders at the Mike Telich McDonald’s Organization and will team up with fellow leaders at the organization, Peggy Olsen and John Shade with McDonald’s operations, who will be joined by NBC4 Daytime Columbus host Robyn Haines; Dan Wagner, president and chief executive officer of Farm Credit Mid-America, is supported by Nationwide and the Ohio Farm Bureau and he will be joined by Matt Reese of the Ohio Country Journal & the Ohio Ag Net podcast; Jason Schaub, general manager at Valley Ford of Columbus, is bringing Jennifer Kiel, Editor for Michigan Farmer and Ohio Farmer; Anthony-Thomas Candies has its National Sales and Marketing Manager Nick Trifelos teaming up with NBC4 lifestyles reporter, Gabrielle Phifer; and Ryan Wilkins, the former chief marketing officer for RMHC of Central Ohio now running his own business, Wilkins Collective, will join his wife, Andrea, and partner with Kate Siefert of ABC6/FOX28.
The All-Ohio State Fair Band will kick off the event, with special guests from The Ohio State University, including director of marching and athletic bands, Chris Hoch, and Ohio State drum major, Clayton Callender.
Ohio 4-H, the youth development program of CFAES, is delivered through Ohio State University Extension, CFAES’ statewide outreach program. With the support of Ohio 4-H, the annual steer show has raised a combined total of $571,857 since 2019.
The Columbus Ronald McDonald House provides more than 82,000 nights of rest to families of seriously ill children each year. The facility offers a home-away-from-home for families dealing with a child’s illness and hospitalization. Situated across the street from Nationwide Children’s Hospital, the House offers lodging, meals, laundry facilities, an exercise room, informal gathering areas, and activities for families of hospitalized children.