Two Pella High School alumni–and twin siblings, have won a top prize at the 2018 Iowa State Fair.
Chloe and Cade Van Vliet, Class of 2018 graduates, had the Supreme Champion Breeding Heifer–one of the top awards in Iowa for cattle exhibition, at this year’s fair.
Chloe recalls the moment they won as special for her entire family, as the siblings have been involved with cattle their whole lives on their family’s farm near Otley.
“It was a big win for our family,” she says. “It was something we have never done. We’ve been fortunate to have other success, but this was the first time we won this show and is up there as one of the best wins we’ve had.”
“Getting the grand champion slab was kind of like an individual feeling that you can’t even describe.”
Cade was in charge of grooming and preparing the cow for show, while Chloe was the presenter, as she describes it.
“After we won and [I was] shaking the judges hand, I went over to see Cade and we were both crying, it was kind of a bittersweet moment,” she recalls, as it was her last showing event with the Prairie Pride 4-H, of which she and Cade have been members for nine years.
“Seeing my family and everybody being just so elated was something that I’ll remember forever.”
Video from the moment the Van Vliets took the top prize (more details below):

The cow is named Reba–full name “Reba the Reject,” and is originally from Oklahoma. The Van Vliets purchased the unwanted heifer from another Iowa family, and she’s been shown half a dozen times since.
“She was lucky enough to be reserve national champion this summer in Grand Island at the Junior Heifer show,” she says.
Cade is attending Iowa State University, and plans to study Animal Science, and Chloe’s decision to play basketball at Coe will limit her ability to stay in cattle showing competitions.
“That was my last show in the show ring,” she adds. “My heifer will go on to show this fall at some major shows, but my brother will show her because I’ll be busy with basketball at Coe College.”
As Chloe heads to Coe, she will do so with an extra scholarship on hand due to her participation at the Iowa State Fair — the Gov. Terry E. Branstad Iowa State Fair Scholarship, which comes with a $2000 award as heads to school this fall.
“I’ve been going [to the fair] as long as I can remember and it’s been my favorite time of the year, I look forward to it all summer and making memories with my friends.”