SEDALIA, MO -- Press Release from Missouri State Fair News

Youth in Agriculture Day was celebrated Saturday, August 21, at the 2010 Missouri State Fair with a highlight being the annual Sale of Champions. The sale generated $­­­­99,750 to benefit Missouri youth involved in agriculture. 

The opening lot was the Grand Champion Steer, exhibited by Callie Mawson of Archie.  The 1325-pound Crossbred steer sold for $17,000. Whitney Ratliff, of Bevier, exhibited the Grand Champion Market Lamb. The 136-pound Natural Color lamb sold for $12,000.  

Both the steer and the lamb were  purchased by Edward Jones & Associates--Shane Adrian, Moberly; Travis Bartlett, Peculiar; Roger Bennett, Trenton; Ryan Beumer, Marshall; Michael Bode, Shelbina; Kevin Brown, Bowling Green; David Clapp, Mexico; Diane Dudenhoeffer, Marshall; Ann Echelmeier, Columbia; Joe Fluty, Sedalia; Doug Hammer, Independence; Mark Harrison, Chillicothe; Tom Hissink, Nevada; Cliff Jones, Independence; Alan Kimbel, Warrenton; Paul Kissick, Kirksville; Mark Kliethermes, Independence; Bill Kueny/Matt Peiter, Boonville; J. R. Lawless, Columbia; Melissa Lenz, Crestwood; Lon Luckert, Brookfield; Mark Matthews, St. Joseph; Cole D. Merrill, Moberly; Joannie Miller, Warsaw; George Morse, Harrisonville; Bill Phillips, Ozark; David Reid, Higginsville; Lance Reynolds, Boonville; Mark Saunders, Monroe City; Dennis Sieger, Clinton; Travis Shireman, Houstonia; Carl Simpson, Butler; John Skinner, Blue Springs; Brian Yarbrough, Independence; Youth in Agriculture and hometown support.  Both animals were donated to the University of Missouri Livestock Judging Team.

The Grand Champion Barrow, exhibited by Cooper Nally of Hopkins, was purchased by the MU Independent Aggies, Farmland Foods, Youth in Agriculture and hometown support for $16,000.  The crossbred hog weighed 283-pounds.

The Grand Champion Pen of Rabbits, exhibited by Sara Gerdeman of Warrenton, was purchased by MFA Incorporated, Columbia, Youth in Agriculture and hometown support for $3,000.  The Californian rabbits were donated to the Missouri Food Bank Association.

Sidney Copeland of Cowgill, exhibited the Grand Champion Pen of Chickens.  The Cornish Cross Broilers were purchased by Kingsville Livestock Auction and Lewis Hybrids, Ursa, IL, Youth in Agriculture and hometown support for $1,800.  The chickens were donated to the Missouri Food Bank Association.

The Grand Champion Meat Goat was exhibited by Skyler Scotten of Nevada. The Boer goat was bought for $5,050 by the Missouri Meat Goat Producers Association, Youth in Agriculture and hometown supporters.

The Reserve Grand Champion Steer was shown by Laine Martin of Curryville. This 1330-pound steer was purchased for $11,000 by the Missouri State Fair Concessionaires and Commercial Exhibitors--Allan Dennis Concessions, Earl Peck Concessions, Exclusive Home Products, Good Time Charlie’s, John Hammon Concessions, Kimber Sweetin Hogan, Kim-Laine Fun Foods, Knapp Foods, L & D Enterprises, M & M Concessions, Bill McKinney, McKinney Food Service, McKinney Fried Chicken Diner, Tim McKinney, NDP Enterprises, Roger Westmoreland Concessions, Shallow Concessions LLC, Signs by L & J, Subway, Versa Products, W. C. Foods, Walker Enterprises, and Webster Enterprises; Youth in Agriculture and hometown support. The steer was donated to the Missouri State Fair Employees Association.

Taylor Loges, of Sweet Springs, showed the Reserve Grand Champion Barrow.  The 283-pound crossbred barrow was purchased for $15,000 by ADM Nutrition Alliance/MoorMan Show Tec, Wheeler Auction & Real Estate, Paris, along with Youth in Agriculture and hometown support.  The Reserve Champion Barrow was donated to the University of Missouri Livestock Judging Team.

Troy Sloan, of Cameron, exhibited the Reserve Grand Champion Market Lamb.  The Suffolk wether weighed 137 pounds, and was purchased for $9,000 by Heimer & Associates, Quincy, IL, the MU Independent Aggies, Youth in Agriculture and hometown support. The Reserve Champion Lamb was donated to the Missouri Food Bank Association.

The Reserve Grand Champion Pen of Rabbits was exhibited by Hayden Fisher of Aurora. The New Zealand Black rabbits sold for $4,500 to the Missouri State Rabbit Producers Association along with Youth in Agriculture and hometown support.  The rabbits were donated to the Missouri Food Bank Association.

The Reserve Grand Champion Pen of Chickens sold for $1,200 purchased by Ribus, Inc., St. Louis, American Family Insurance, Youth in Agriculture and hometown support.  Shelby Copeland of Cowgill, exhibited the Cornish Cross birds.  The chickens were donated to the Missouri Food Bank Association.

ADM Nutrition Alliance/MoorMan Show-Tec, Youth in Agriculture and hometown support purchased the Reserve Grand Champion Meat Goat for $3,000.  The Boer-Cross was exhibited by Spencer Scotten of Nevada.  The Reserve Grand Champion Meat Goat was donated to the University of Missouri Livestock Judging Team.

The last lot of the sale was the Missouri State Fair Sale of Champions Commemorative Belt Buckle.  Wayne Yokley of Jefferson City purchased the buckle for $1,200.

At the end of the Sale, auctioneer Mike Williams said young people across the state should be proud of their accomplishments and use this sale as a goal for their future projects.  The individuals and businesses that supported this sale showed that they are willing to stake a future in the youth associated with agriculture.

Wayne Yokley, Chairman of the Missouri State Fair Youth in Agriculture Committee, and Superintendent of the Sale of Champions, said the auction cannot be credited for its large success without the support from all of the Youth in Agriculture Sponsors. Proceeds go to the exhibitors and to Youth in Agriculture scholarships.  Since 1992, the Youth in Agriculture Committee has awarded 343 scholarships totaling $263,500.  Application forms for the 2010 Youth in Agriculture scholarships will be available in November at www.mostatefair.com.  The deadline to submit applications is February 1, 2011.