Missouri State Fair Awards Scholarships to 4-H, FFA Youth

Missouri State Fair Director Mark Wolfe has announced that 40 youth, selected from Missouri 4-H and FFA State Fair exhibitors, will be awarded scholarships by the Missouri State Fair and the Youth in Agriculture (YIA) committee.

The students are seeking higher education at a Missouri university or college.

“Cultivating Missouri agriculture youth is at the core of the State Fair’s mission statement,” Wolfe said. “This year’s scholarships amount to $68,500, the largest amount offered. We are grateful for the YIA supporters that came together to make these scholarships possible.”

Scholarship applicants were evaluated in a variety of areas including Missouri State Fair participation, grade point average, community involvement and leadership roles. Since 1992, the YIA committee has awarded 715 scholarships totaling $797,500.

The scholarships are funded through the generosity of Youth in Agriculture sponsors and buyers of the livestock sold during the annual Sale of Champions; the sponsors and buyers list is available online. A portion of each animal’s total sale value is allocated to the scholarship program. Support of the scholarship program was also provided by the Missouri State Fair Foundation, the Missouri State Fair Ham & Bacon Auction, Sydenstricker Nobbe Partners/Sydenstricker Genetics, Edward Jones Associates, Randy Little of Republic, Nutrien Ag Solutions, Walmart of Sedalia, Missouri State Rabbit Producers, and Casey’s General Stores.

Quincy Wiegand, of Cairo, has been selected to receive the $5,000 platinum scholarship offered by YIA supporters.

Alexis Lydia Plackemeier, of Silex has been selected to receive the $2,500 supreme scholarship, sponsored by Sydenstricker Nobbe Partners/Sydenstricker Genetics.

Schyler Angell, of Centralia, Lauren Crutsinger, of Whitewater, Isaac Rhode, of Stewartsville, and Avery Schiereck, of El Dorado Springs have been selected to receive the $2,500 supreme scholarships offered by the Missouri State Fair Foundation.

The youth chosen to receive $1,500 scholarships, sponsored by YIA supporters, are:

Brooke Jackie Anderson, Ionia
Sara Mae Bartholomew, Keytesville
Mason Baxter, Chillicothe
Jenna Blessing, Memphis
Morgan Blessing, Memphis
Emma Burns, Bosworth
Kaileen Dohrman, Marshall
Justin Eddy, Rocheport
Libby Hagan Endicott, Gallatin
Ethan Fort, Martinsburg
Kynleigh Fuehring, Sweet Springs
Dillon Gilmer, Polo
Rachel Grimes, Archie
Paityn Hall, Norborne
Jenna Hasekamp, Madison
Eli Henke, Princeton
Rylee J. Johnson, Laredo
Olivia Kiely, Clinton
Weston G. King, Taylor
Caitlyn Kleffner, Rolla
Kaitlin Kleiboeker, Stotts City
Grant Knipmeyer, Sweet Springs
Troy Ludwig, Linn
Abigail Miller, Olean
Evan Miller, Pleasant Hill
Taylor Miller, Lebanon
Brett Montgomery, Brookfield
Payden Nolting, Lamar
Maelea Parrish, Thompson
Lillian Smith, Braymer
Anna Triplett, Rutledge
Kylee Walters, Centralia
Victoria Washburn, King City
Macie Wolf, Reeds

The YIA committee is comprised of volunteers from across the state who work throughout the year to raise funds for the annual Sale of Champions auction and scholarships. This year’s auction will be held Saturday, Aug. 21, in the Lowell Mohler Assembly Hall on the fairgrounds. The Missouri Department of Agriculture will broadcast the auction live at Facebook.com/MoAgriculture.  Online bidding will also be available during the live auction provided by LiveAuctions.tv.

The 119th annual Missouri State Fair, themed “Our Missouri Celebration” will be held Aug. 12-22 in Sedalia. For more information about the year's fair, visit www.mostatefair.com, follow the Missouri State Fair on Facebook and Twitter or call 1-800-422-FAIR (3247).