State Fair Grand Champion Ram is from Effingham County

Effingham County has laid claim to the Grand Champion Ram at this year's Illinois State Fair.

Tyler Gressel of Mason won the honor for his ram, a Suffolk, in competition Sunday in Springfield.  17-year-old Tyler's father Darrell Gressel said this is the first time that a slick shorn ram won the fitted ram contest.

Tyler is no stranger to success in showing rams.  He won a national contest in Louisville, Kentucky two years ago with the father of this year's winner.

Darrell said Tyler will be showing rams in 13 states this year.

Today is Agriculture Day at the State Fair.  Grand Champion junior livestock, including the barrow, steer, wether, poultry trio and rabbit trio, are auctioned at the Governor's Sale of Champions, and the best of Illinois processed foods are auctioned at the Commodity Auction.

The Commodity Auction will begin at 4:30pm, followed by the Governor's Sale of Champions at 5:30pm.

There is pedal and tractor pull action at 1:30pm for all boys and girls weighing between 30 and 80 pounds.

The entertainment in front of the grandstand tonight is The Band Perry with Randy Houser, who was such a hit last Friday night at the Effingham County Fair, at 8pm.