A Clinton teen's steer sold for a record amount at the Governor's Sale of Champions Tuesday night, but what made it even more special, two celebrities were at the heart of the sale.

A great surprise was awaiting Clinton's Taylor Donelson, who exhibited the Land of Lincoln Grand Champion Steer. Donelson names her steers after country music artists and her Champion Steer was named Scotty, after American Idol winner Scotty McCreery.

McCreery, who just happened to be performing at the Illinois State Fair the night of the sale, caught wind of this and surprised her by showing up at the Governor's Sale of Champions.

McCreery stood in the crowd of bidders to help root on Taylor, but to also help raise the bidding higher and higher. Donelson's Land of Lincoln steer sold for a record $61,000 to the highest bidder, Governor Bruce Rauner.

Donelson says a lot of work goes into getting the steer ready for the fairs and never expected to get as far as she did.

[audio:8191530601-82015donelsonsteer1.mp3] [/audio]

Showing livestock at a high level is nothing new to Donelson. She indicates this runs in her family for several decades but this is the first time for them at the Sale of Champions. Before the sale she said they were just hoping for the best.

[audio:8191530602-82015donelsonsteer2.mp3] [/audio]

Land of Lincoln Grand Champion Barrow went to Grant Kiefer of Gridley at $35-thousand. Kiefer says it's gratifying to have all the hard work he's put in with his Barrow pay off.

[audio:8191530537-82015donelsonsteer3.mp3] [/audio]

The junior exhibitors who showed the champion animals receive 80 percent of the sales price. The remaining 20 percent will be equally split between the Illinois 4-H and FFA programs.

Other winners from the Tuesday Sale of Champions was Griffen Jodlowski from Atlanta. He won Grand Champion Doe's Milk for $225.