Typically, the grand champion steer is the main event at the Illinois State Fair’s Governor’s Sale of Champions.

In this year of change in Illinois politics and government, with new people running things and a move back to the fairgrounds Coliseum for the livestock auction, another steer upstaged the champion, with the help of an American Idol.

Taylor Donelson of Clinton was showing the “Land of Lincoln champion,” which she named Scotty, for her favorite singer, who just happened to show up: Scotty McCreery. He brought the star power, and Gov. Bruce Rauner brought the checkbook, purchasing Scotty (the steer) for $61,000.

The annual event raised more than $275,000 for the youth and for 4-H and FFA programs.

In other state news, two proposals long supported by Gov. Bruce Rauner aren’t included in the new comprehensive legislation he wants the General Assembly to consider.

Term limits on state lawmakers and creating a separate redistricting commission aren’t among the reforms proposed in Rauner’s new bill, though he says that doesn’t mean he’s given up on those issues this year.
Unlike other proposals Rauner included in the new bill, term limits and redistricting reforms couldn’t have been implemented for several years.

Both would require voter approval to amend the state’s constitution. Term limits couldn’t go into effect until the next General Assembly is seated in 2017, and redistricting reform wouldn’t be implemented until after the 2020 U.S. Census.