Rural Searsboro girl named grand champion at the Iowa Governor’s Charity Steer Show

       Emma Norman of Searsboro is shown with Jeff Angelo, iHeart Radio Personality/WHO Radio talk show host at the 42nd Iowa Governor’s Charity Steer Show at the Iowa State Fair on Aug. 10. Norman, who is a first year member of the Sugar Creek 4-H Club, won the steer show with her steer, Whopper. The steer was sponsored by the Iowa Bankers Association and raised $13,000 for the Ronald McDonald Charities of Iowa, located in Des Moines, Iowa City and Sioux City. The annual steer show has raised more than $5.6 million for the Ronald McDonald Charities since its founding in 1983. Submitted photo from Jodi Norman. 

by J.O. Parker

   Emma Norman turned 11-years-old this month and she has many good reasons to celebrate more than just a birthday.
   Norman, the daughter of Jamie and Jodi Norman, of rural Searsboro, was named Grand Champion of the 42nd Iowa Governor’s Charity Steer Show on Saturday, Aug. 10 at the Iowa State Fair.
   Her steer, Whopper, which weighed 1,420 pounds, was shown by Norman with the help of Jeff Angelo,iHeart Radio Personality/WHO Radio talk show host.
   Whopper was purchased from Wade Rodgers, owner of Rodgers Cattle Company of Searsboro, in June 2023. 
  When asked why she chose the name Whopper, Norman, who is shy and not too talkative, said when she first got the steer she’d pull on his rope to lead and “He would just flop over.”
   “Whopper didn’t like the wash rack at first, but now he wants a bath every day,” said Norman’s mother, Jodi.
   Norman is a first year member of the Sugar Creek 4-H Club. She starts the fifth grade in the fall at Lynnville-Sully.
   She got interested in raising and showing cattle from her dad, Jamie, and grandpa, Mark Norman.
   The Norman family raise 63 head of cattle and farms. 
   Prior to the Iowa State Fair, Norman showed Whopper at various shows and fairs where she won numerous awards and honors.
   Whopper was grand champion medium weight steer and grand champion overall market animal at the Poweshiek County Fair.
   Whopper advanced to show in the Best of the Best in the Market Beef category, winning in Marengo, then advanced to the All-Iowa Showdown in Oskaloosa, where the steer did not place.
   Whopper was also shown at the Big 4 Fair in Nashua and the Butler County Fall Jackpot.
  Dan Foley, a representative of the Iowa Bankers Association, asked Norman to show Whopper at the Governor’s Charity Steer Show.
   Jodi said her daughter spent her entire summer working with Whopper. 
  “She got up early every day and worked with Whopper,” said Jodi. “She got him settled, fed, walked and groomed daily.”
   Norman was one of 24 youth showing cattle in the charity steer show, which was founded in 1983. The annual event has raised more than $5.6 million benefiting the Ronald McDonald House Charities of Iowa, located in Des Moines, Iowa City and Sioux City. These three houses have served more than 55,000 families from all 50 states and 62 foreign countries. Families from all 99 counties in Iowa have benefited from the Ronald McDonald Houses of Iowa. 
    Whopper raised $13,000 from local support, with sponsorship from the Iowa Bankers Association.
   The charity event is hosted by the Office of the Governor of Iowa, Iowa Cattlemen’s Association and Iowa Beef Industry Council.
    “The youth exhibitors, their families, sponsors, celebrities, and buyers should be proud of their effort given to this year’s event,” noted a representative with the Iowa Governor’s Office. “Their impact through volunteering, donations and dedication created yet another successful show and fundraising outcome.”
    At the close of the fair, Whopper was taken to the Iowa State University Animal Science Lab where he will be used for educational purposes and later processed.
    After winning the charity show, Jodi said her daughter received a lot of attention.
    “It’s all kind of a blur,” said Jodi. “There have been people every day coming up to talk to and interview her.”
    Norman is the oldest of three children in the family. She has two other sisters, Ava, 6, and Charlie, 4.
   And it’s a good bet that Norman will be in the showring in the coming years. She has five more steers at home she cares for and is grooming for the future.