Missouri State Fair Announces Youth in Ag Scholarship Winners

Missouri State Fair Director Jason Moore announced today that 62 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.

These students are seeking higher education at a university/college of their choice and will be recognized on April 16, 2026 during the annual State FFA Convention in Columbia.

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 Youth in Agriculture committee has now awarded 1,003 scholarships totaling $1,310,000.

The scholarships are funded through the generosity of Youth in Agriculture sponsors and buyers of the livestock sold during the Best of Missouri Awards and Sale and Sale of Champions auction; the sponsors and buyers lists are 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 Betty Jane Bell Trust, BTC Bank, Edward Jones and Associates, MFA Inc. Charitable Foundation, Missouri State Fair Concessionaires, Missouri State Fair Foundation, The Climate Fieldview Corp., Hayden Freedom Foundation, and Wheeler Auctions.

John Brodey Bartlett, of Marshall, has been selected to receive the $5,000 S. Wayne Yokley Platinum Scholarship sponsored by Youth in Agriculture supporters.

Elliott Cooley, of Windsor, has been selected to receive the $3,500 Sharon Topliff Scholarship, sponsored by Youth in Agriculture supporters.

Rhett Forkner, of Richards, has been selected to receive the $2,500 supreme scholarship, sponsored by Sydenstricker Nobbe Partners/Sydenstricker Genetics.

The youth chosen to receive $2,500 supreme scholarships, sponsored by the Missouri State Fair Foundation, are:

Kristin Waters, Norborne
Kelsey Carter, Montrose
Savannah Miller, Jonesburg
Gage Davis, Nelson

The youth chosen to receive $2,000 scholarships, sponsored by Bell Trust, are:

Jorja Ebert, Polo
Bailee Vogel, Marshall
Brock Pitt, Norborne
Addison Shipp, Keytesville
Austin Doerhoff, Henley
Braydon Cull, Chillicothe
Seth Engeman, Montrose
Ava Ancell, Macon
Beau Ann Graves, Chillicothe
Braxton Switzer, Bucklin
The youth chosen to receive $1,750 scholarships, sponsored by MFA, Inc. Charitable Foundation, are:

Marah Greiman, Monroe City
J. Grayden Woodcock, Macon
Sophia Speichinger, Mendon
Joanna Rhea, Houstonia
Krista Cokerham, Meadville

The youth chosen to receive $1,750 scholarships, sponsored by Youth in Agriculture supporters, are:

Callie Gann, Boonville
Courtney Sparks, St. Catharine
TJ Belt, Leonard
Gracelynn Barnett, Chillicothe
Delaney Duncan, Pleasant Hill
Raylyn Wilfong, Tipton
Marshall Kable, Centralia
Kale Batson, Trenton
Lydia Nolting, Lamar
Brier Day, Marshfield
Jersey Rowe, New Cambria
Jaiden Rodenberg, Wheeling
Justin Schutter, Kirksville
Colby Walkup, Agency
Clara Harden, Rolla
Hannah Williams, Amsterdam
Ashtyn Johnson, Sweet Springs
Allee Prescott, Coffey
Saige Garner, Belle
Macy Martin, Springfield
Braylin Brunkhorst, Centralia
Mealiea Cover, Bowling Green
Adelynn Barber, Elsberry
Allie Wagner, Pierce City
Payden Crain, Madison
Kampbell Thomas, Republic
Carman Woodworth, Chillicothe
Selby Hulse, Hannibal
Mackenzie Schmutzler, Savannah
Zada Ketchum, Downing
Kate Fischer, St. Joseph
Blain Kusgen, California
Jordan Brinkman, Foley
Benjamin Brubaker, Chillicothe
Makayla McCurdy, Wellsville
Sari Rogers, Princeton
Aubrey Youse, Paris
Marshal Stauffer, El Dorado Springs
Blair Bergsieker, Higginsville
Trinity Dreckshage, Shelbyville

The Youth in Agriculture committee is comprised of volunteers from across the state who work throughout the year to raise funds for the Best of Missouri Awards and Sale, Sale of Champions auction and scholarships. This year’s Best of Missouri Awards and Sale and Sale of Champions will be held on Saturday, Aug. 22 in the Lowell Mohler Assembly Hall on the Fairgrounds.