(SEDALIA, Mo.)—The Missouri State Fair celebrated Youth in Agriculture Day, sponsored by the Missouri Department of Conservation, Saturday, Aug. 22.  The annual Sale of Champions highlighted the day, with several record-breaking prices, raising $142,950. 

 
Funds will be used to benefit Missouri youth involved in agriculture.  Since 1992, the Missouri State Fair Foundation Youth in Agriculture Committee has awarded scholarships totaling more than $400,500.  Applications for the 2015 YIA scholarships will be available on the Missouri State Fair website in November, and applications will be due by February 1, 2016.
 
The opening lot was the Grand Champion Steer, exhibited by Laurin Dilly of Deerfield.  Laurin’s 1,335 pound Crosssbred steer sold for $18,700, and was purchased by Edward Jones & Associates.  Edward Jones and Associates included:  Roger Bennett, Trenton; Shane Adrian, Moberly; Ryan Beumer, Marshall; Craig Bolger, Independence; Jim Bonderer, Chillicothe; Alan Brandt, Warrensburg; Kevin Brown, Bowling Green; Darren Collier, Carthage; Stan Davis, Clinton; Diane Dudenhoeffer, Marshall; Ann Echelmeier, Columbia; Tim Erickson, Bolivar; Joe Fluty, Sedalia; Bill Fretwell, Columbia; Patrick Goodknight, Joplin; Doug Hammer, Independence; Mark Harrison, Chillicothe; Tom Hissink, Nevada; Bill Hudson, Kansas City; Shannon Isaacson, Macon; Cliff Jones, Independence; Alan Kimbel, Warrenton; Paul Kissick, Kirksville; Adam Kliethermes, Independence; Mark Kliethermes, Independence; Matt Kueny, Boonville; J. R. Lawless, Columbia; Rich Lawson, Warrensburg; Matt Logan, Pleasant Hill; Lon Luckert, Brookfield; JD Manning, Clinton; Mark Matthews, St. Joseph; Virgil McDonald, Sedalia; Cole Merrill, Cameron; Matt Peiter, Boonville; David Reid, Higginsville; Lance Reynolds, Boonville; Mark Saunders, Monroe City; Dennis Sieger, Clinton; Carl Simpson, Butler; John Skinner, Blue Springs; Doug Turnbough, Odessa; Brian Yarbrough, Excelsior Springs; and George Morse, Harrisonville.  Additional funds for the Grand Champion Steer were also contributed by Youth in Agriculture and hometown supporters.  The steer was donated to the University of Missouri Livestock Judging Team.
 
The Grand Champion Barrow was exhibited by Kaycee Vandiver of McFall. Kaycee’s 275-pound Crossbred hog was purchased for a record $23,800 by Elite Swine Program/ESP Show Feeds and BTC Bank with locations in Bethany, Gallatin, Albany, Pattonsburg, Chillicothe and Carrollton, MO; and Lamoni, IA.  Additional funds were also contributed by Youth in Agriculture and hometown supporters.  The barrow was donated to the Missouri FFA Leadership Fund.
 
Sydney Tomlin of Unionville exhibited the Grand Champion Market Lamb that was purchased for a record $21,000 by the MU Sigma Alpha-Alpha Chi Sorority and Climate Corporation, a division of the Monsanto Company, along with Youth in Agriculture and hometown supporters.  The lamb was donated to the University of Missouri Livestock Judging Team.
 
The Grand Champion Pen of Meat Rabbits was exhibited by Sydney Hartless of Carthage.  Sydney’s New Zealand rabbits weighed an average of 4.81 pounds. Her pen of rabbits was purchased by ADM Alliance Nutrition/MoorMan’s ShowTec and the Missouri State Rabbit Producers Association along with Youth in Agriculture and hometown supporters for $3,500.  The pen of rabbits was donated to the Missouri Food Bank Association/Feeding Missouri.
 
Sierra Bruse of Princeton exhibited the Grand Champion Pen of Chickens. Sierra’s broilers weighed an average of 6.8 pounds and were purchased by Eddie DeJaynes, in memory of Art DeJaynes, along with Youth in Agriculture and hometown supporters for $2,600.
 
The Grand Champion Meat Goat was exhibited by Trent Kempker of Jefferson City. Trent’s Boer goat weighed 84 pounds and was purchased for $7,400 by the Missouri State Fair Concessionaires & Commercial Exhibitors including:  Brown’s Fudge Shop; Budweiser Stage/Mark’s Brothers; Chuck & Dee’s; Cowboy Shop; Creamy Rich; Dennis Concessions, Inc.; Exclusive Home Products; Jackson’s Smokehouse, LLC; Kim-Laine Concessions; Main Street T’s; McKinney Food Services; Meadowlark Arts; NDP Enterprises; Shallow Concessions; Signs by L & J; Specialty Products; Versa Enterprises; Webster Enterprises; and Westmoreland Concessions, along with Youth in Agriculture and hometown supporters. 
 
Katelyn Gillum of Unionville exhibited the Reserve Grand Champion Steer. Katelyn’s 1,320-pound Crossbred steer was purchased for $23,500 by the MU Independent Aggies and Edward Jones and Associates including:  Roger Bennett, Trenton; Shane Adrian, Moberly; Ryan Beumer, Marshall; Craig Bolger, Independence; Jim Bonderer, Chillicothe; Alan Brandt, Warrensburg; Kevin Brown, Bowling Green; Darren Collier, Carthage; Stan Davis, Clinton; Diane Dudenhoeffer, Marshall; Ann Echelmeier, Columbia; Tim Erickson, Bolivar; Joe Fluty, Sedalia; Bill Fretwell, Columbia; Patrick Goodknight, Joplin; Doug Hammer, Independence; Mark Harrison, Chillicothe; Tom Hissink, Nevada; Bill Hudson, Kansas City; Shannon Isaacson, Macon; Cliff Jones, Independence; Alan Kimbel, Warrenton; Paul Kissick, Kirksville; Adam Kliethermes, Independence; Mark Kliethermes, Independence; Matt Kueny, Boonville; J. R. Lawless, Columbia; Rich Lawson, Warrensburg; Matt Logan, Pleasant Hill; Lon Luckert, Brookfield; JD Manning, Clinton; Mark Matthews, St. Joseph; Virgil McDonald, Sedalia; Cole Merrill, Cameron; Matt Peiter, Boonville; David Reid, Higginsville; Lance Reynolds, Boonville; Mark Saunders, Monroe City; Dennis Sieger, Clinton; Carl Simpson, Butler; John Skinner, Blue Springs; Doug Turnbough, Odessa; Brian Yarbrough, Excelsior Springs; and George Morse, Harrisonville; along with Youth in Agriculture and hometown supporters.  The steer was donated to the University of Missouri Livestock Judging Team.
 
Emily Montgomery of Auxvasse showed the Reserve Grand Champion Barrow.  Emily’s 268-pound Crossbred barrow was purchased for $18,500 by Elite Swine Program/ESP Show Feeds and the Jerry Litton Family Memorial Foundation,   along with Youth in Agriculture and hometown supporters.  The barrow was donated to the Missouri FFA Leadership Fund.
 
Kayla Morrow of Nevada showed the Reserve Champion Market Lamb.  Kayla’s Crossbred lamb weighed 129 pounds and was purchased for $9,750 by Ag-Power, Inc. and DuPont Pioneer and supporting Pioneer sales representatives including:  Brandon Badgley & Audrey Mallott, Blumhorst Seeds,Inc., Tony & Toodie Brackman, CR Seeds & Services LLC/Cory & Stacey Robinson, Ed & Rita Hesse, and Shireman Seeds/Kevin Shireman.  Additional funds were also contributed by Youth in Agriculture and hometown supporters.  The lamb was donated to the Missouri Food Bank Association/Feeding Missouri.
 
The Reserve Champion Pen of Meat Rabbits was exhibited by Ty Eversole of Rocheport.  Ty’s New Zealand rabbits weighed an average of weight of 4.81 pounds and sold for $5,000 to Value Ag, LLC., Columbia, MO and ADM Alliance Nutrition/MoorMan’s ShowTec, along with Youth in Agriculture and hometown supporters.  The rabbits were donated to the Missouri Food Bank Association/Feeding Missouri.
 
Brayden Gast of Nevada exhibited the Reserve Champion Pen of Chickens. Brayden’s broilers weighed an average of 6.5 pounds and sold for $1,400 to RIBUS, Inc./Steve Peirce, St. Louis, MO, along with Youth in Agriculture and hometown supporters.  The chickens were donated to the Missouri Food Bank Association/Feeding Missouri.
 
Shannon DeHaan of Taylor exhibited the Reserve Grand Champion Boer Goat, which weighed 87 pounds and sold for $5,000 to Heimer & Associates, Quincy, IL; Heimer Hampshires (Rodney, Jesse, Amy & Jacob Heimer) and Wheeler Auctions and Real Estate, Paris, MO.  Additional funds were also contributed by Youth in Agriculture and hometown supporters.  The goat was donated to the University of Missouri Livestock Judging Team.
 
The last lot of the sale was the Limited Edition State Fair Commemorative Belt Buckle, which was purchased by RIBUS, Inc. of St. Louis, MO/Steve Peirce for $2,800.
 
Wayne Yokley, Chairman of the Missouri State Fair Foundation Youth in Agriculture Committee, and Superintendent of the Sale of Champions, said the Sale’s success can only be credited to the support from Youth in Agriculture supporters.  Proceeds from the Sale go to the exhibitors and to Youth in Agriculture scholarships. 
 
A complete list of all 2015 Youth in Agriculture sponsors will be available at www.mostatefair.com.
 
The 2015 Missouri State Fair, themed “Show Offs Welcome," wraps up today in Sedalia.  For more information about competitions and other events, visit www.mostatefair.com, follow the Fair on Facebook and Twitter, or call 1-800-422-FAIR (3247).
(courtesy of Missouri State Fair)

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