Ohio State Fair livestock sales net $134K for state programs

Watch a report on livestock at the 2024 Ohio State Fair in the video player above.

COLUMBUS, Ohio ( WCMH ) — Ohio youth taking part in agriculture projects across the state will see a boon thanks to Sunday’s Sale of Champions as the closing event of the 2024 Ohio State Fair.

According to the fair, total sales this year were $260,500, with the Virgil L. Stickler Youth Reserve Program taking in $134,000 to continue supporting agriculture programs for youth across the state.

All caps — the top dollar amount the animal’s exhibitor can take home — were exceeded, with any excess going to the Stickler youth program.

“I’m so impressed by the junior fair livestock exhibitors for a tremendous display here at the Ohio State Fair of their work throughout the year,” Ohio Expo Center and State Fairgrounds Executive Director Adam Heffron said in a statement. “The Fair and especially this sale would not be possible without the generous support of all the dedicated buyers.”

Grand and reserve market beef, barrows, meat chickens, lambs, goats, and turkey as well as the grand champion Swiss cheese were all sold this year.

Funds in the Youth Reserve Program, established in 1995, are distributed among more than 20 scholarships, outstanding market exhibitor program, outstanding breeding exhibitor program, showmanship contests, skillathons, and many other 4-H and FFA activities, the fair said in a statement.

The 2024 Sale of Champions results are below:

Grand Champion Market Beef
Exhibited by: Annistyn Oszust — Tuscarawas County
Purchased by: The Kroger Company, Bob Evans Farms, Ohio Farm Bureau Federation, and Ohio Harness Horseman’s Association
Price: $40,000
Cap: $25,000

Reserve Grand Champion Market Beef
Exhibited by: Essie McGuire — Champaign County
Purchased by: OKI, Inc., Schmidt’s Sausage Haus, NetSteady, SP+, Expo Services, and Ohio Quarter Horse Association
Price: $22,000
Cap: $18,000

Grand Champion Market Barrow
Exhibited by: Kylie Locke — Clark County
Purchased by: Giant Eagle and Sugardale Foods
Price: $37,000
Cap: $13,000

Reserve Grand Champion Market Barrow
Exhibited by: Kole Bishop — Champaign County
Purchased by: The Kroger Company, Bob Evans Farms, Ohio Farm Bureau Federation
Price: $35,000
Cap: $9,000

Grand Champion Market Lamb
Exhibited by: Ava Shroyer — Logan County
Purchased by: The Kroger Company, Ohio Harness Horseman’s Association, and Ohio Farm Bureau Federation
Price: $13,000
Cap: $13,000

Reserve Grand Champion Market Lamb
Exhibited by: Marshall Miller — Tuscarawas County
Purchased by: Giant Eagle and Sugardale Foods
Price: $12,000
Cap: $9,000

Grand Champion Meat Chickens
Exhibited by: Alec Genter — Fulton County
Purchased by: Giant Eagle and Springer Mountain Farms
Price: $21,000
Cap: $7,000

Reserve Grand Champion Meat Chickens
Exhibited by: Ava Hester — Clinton County
Purchased by: The Kroger Company and Gerber Poultry
Price: $11,000
Cap: $5,000

Grand Champion Market Turkey
Exhibited by: Isabel Newman — Muskingum County
Purchased by: Cooper Farms, Faith Driving School, Bob Evans Farms, Farmer Boys, Sarka Electric, and Dangler Excavating, LLC
Price: $15,000
Cap: $6,000

Grand Champion Market Goat
Exhibited by: Maya McCoy — Fayette County
Purchased by: Event Marketing Strategies, Talley Amusements, Tim and Glenda Huffman of Huffman’s Market, Faith Driving School
Price: $15,000
Cap: $8,000

Reserve Grand Champion Market Goat
Exhibited by: Braxton Method — Auglaize County
Purchased by: OKI, Inc, Schmidt’s Sausage Haus, NetSteady, Expo Services, Ohio Quarter Horse Association
Price: $7,000
Cap: $4,000

Grand Champion Swiss Cheese – Produced by Pearl Valley Cheese, representing the seven dairy champions and two supreme dairy showmen
Exhibited by:
Grand Champion Ayrshire: Audry Sidle, Wayne County
Grand Champion Brown Swiss: Aubree Topp, Shelby County
Grand Champion Guernsey: Savannah Thomas, Champaign County
Grand Champion Holstein: Colton Thomas, Champaign County
Grand Champion Jersey: Lily Elsass, Auglaize County
Grand Champion Milking Shorthorn: Aubree Topp, Shelby County
Grand Champion Red and White: Allison Francis, Darke County

*Supreme Showman
Week 1 – Exhibited by: Lily Elsass, Auglaize County
Week 2 – Exhibited by: Carissa Pittman, Wayne County

Purchased by: A.G. Boogher & Sons, Inc. and American Dairy Association Mideast

Price: $32,500
Cap: $9,000

2024 total sale: $260,500
2024 amount earned for Youth Reserve Program: $134,500

The 2025 Ohio State Fair is scheduled for July 23 – Aug. 3.

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