Three generations of Putneys-John, Mark, and Ryan.

AMES, IOWA The winner of the Iowa State Fair’s “Super Bull Contest” is a Black Angus bull named “Desperado.” Desperado is owned by John and Emily Putney and family of Gladbrook.

Desperado weighed in at 2,972 pounds to take home the ‘Super Bull’ title for the 2016 fair. His competition weighed in at 2,627 pounds and 2,273 pounds.

This year’s Super Bull was purchased as a yearling from the Iowa Beef Expo in 2011. Desperado was the Grand Champion Angus Bull at Expo that year, for Russell Holmes of Benton, IA.

John and Emily Putney have a long history in the cattle business, and their bull, PF Black Mountain, was the first Super Bull at the Iowa State Fair in 1983.

Spear Farms of Indianola took second place with their 2,627 pound Angus bull, “Upward,” and Doug Sudbrock of Indianola took third place with his 2,273 pound Red Angus bull, “Grumpy.”

The top three winners received $1,750, $650, and $400 respectively. The premium money was provided by the Iowa Cattlemen’s Association, Clearfield Lions, Hawkeye Breeders Service of Adel, and the Iowa State Fair.