Steele County Free Fair Livestock Hall of Fame

The Steele County Livestock Hall of Fame Program was held Tuesday afternoon in the Livestock Show Arena at the Steele County Free Fair. Three individuals were inducted into the Steele County Livestock Hall of Fame. All were very deserving of being in the Steele County Livestock Hall of Fame!

On of the inductees was Lester Oeltjenbruns. Some of his activities include: Steele County 4-H and FFA member and was on the State Champion FFA Livestock judging team, 4-H club leader for many years, was involved in building the Aurora Diner on the Steele County Fairgrounds, High School Agricultural Advisory Board in Owatonna for 7 years and chairman for 2, Steele County Commissioner for 18 years, received the Minnesota Association of Counties Outstanding Service Award, was a Dairy Farmer in Steele County for 40 years, active in the Steele County ADA, dairy princess and malt stand, was also active in Extension Service.

Richard "Rusty" Paulson was also inducted into the Steele County Livestock Hall of Fame. Some of Richards activities include: 4-H Dairy Bowl Team coach for 15 years, coach of the 4-H Dairy Judging Team for 15 years with 2 State Champions and 1 National Champion Team, member of State 4-H Dairy and Knowledge Bowl Committees, Served Southern Minnesota dairyman as an IBA distributor, was the Steele County Free Fair Superintendent of the Open Class Dairy show for many years.

The final inductee in the Class of 2018 was Thomas Burke. Thomas was a native of Blooming Prairie excelling in 4-H and FFA, was Minnesota FFA State Star Farmer in 1961, in 2017 inductee in the Saddle & Sirloin Portrait Gallery, highest honor given in the livestock industry, Conducted over 10,000 Angus sales in 47 states and 8 Canadian provinces, Addressed students in 18 universities and collages, Recognized by USA Today as one of the 25  Most Traveled People in America, and Charter Member and first President of the Minnesota Junior Angus Assn. and emceed National Junior banquet for 49 years.

All I can say about these three men is wow! That is what is so great about this program. Those of us that have not been around Steele County for all our lives can become aware of the leaders in the Livestock Industry from Steele County.