The champion of the 2025 Iowa State Fair Big Bull competition is “Bud,” a 3,110-pound Angus bull owned by Mark Till of Maquoketa. Till acquired the 7-year-old bull as a five-year-old from John and Bridget Costello of Delmar. Mark Till tells the Iowa Agribusiness Radio Network that the trip from Maquoketa to the Iowa State Fairgrounds was eventful for Bud.
Till says that he always knew Bud had the potential to be a Super Bull.
John and Bridget Costello are alongside Bud’s display at the west end of the cattle barn this week joining Mark Till in caring for Bud. Bridget Costello tells Iowa Ag Radio the back story of Bud moving from Costello farms where he was born and raised to Till farms.
John Costello says that it was an easy decision to sell Bud to Mark two years ago.
Marvin Spear of Indianola claimed second place with the 2,760-pound Angus bull, “Rampage,” and Marc Weitl of Templeton took home third place with “Big Beaver,” a 2,720-pound Charolais bull.
“Bud” will be on display in the Cattle Barn at the Iowa State Fair through August 17, 2025.
