State fair sale of champions breaks records

COLUMBUS – The 39th annual Ohio State Fair Sale of Champions Livestock Auction took place Aug. 13, and buyers set new records for several projects.
Buyers broke standing records for both reserve grand champion market lamb ($16,750, set in 2004) and reserve grand champion barrow ($16,150, set in 2003).
Poultry. Kara McCarthy of Wyandot County showed the grand champion pen of meat chickens. Amusements of America and Concessions by Cox paid $10,000 for her project.
Lindsey Voge of Preble County showed the reserve grand champion meat chickens.
They were purchased by Nelson Auto Group and Ohio Agriculture Director Fred Dailey and his wife, Rita, for $8,500.
Lambs. The grand champion market lamb was shown by Jamie Banbury of Knox County and earned a bid of $18,000 by The Kroger Company.
The reserve grand champion market lamb was exhibited by Andrew Johnson of Wayne County. Kale Marketing, J.D. Equipment and Burkhart Farm Center paid a record $17,500 for the project.
Hogs. The grand champion barrow was exhibited by Grant Gehret of Shelby County. It was purchased by Meijer, Inc., for $23,000
The reserve grand champion barrow was shown by Nicholas Barney of Lucas County and purchased by Huffman’s Market, Direct Feeds/Show Rite, Jim May Auto Sales and Ohio Horse Racing Council for a record $18,000.
Steers. The grand champion market beef was exhibited by Chelsey Cook of Hancock County. Steve Rauch Excavation and Demolition paid $58,500 for the steer.
The reserve grand champion market beef was exhibited by Kayla Campbell of Greene County Steve Rauch Excavation and Demolition and Union Stockyards paid $22,500 for her steer.
The sale of champions totaled $176,000.
Price caps. In 1995, the Ohio State Fair placed caps on the amounts exhibitors can earn from their livestock sale.
Projects are capped individually at $5,000 for grand champion poultry and $3,000 for reserve champion poultry; champion lamb, $9,000 and reserve champion, $6,000; champion barrow, $9,000 and reserve, $6,000; and champion steer, $20,000 and reserve, $8,000.
Funds over the cap amount – $110,000 – are then distributed among other youth exhibitors through the fair’s Youth Reserve Program.
This program allots funds for carcass contests, scholarships, the outstanding market exhibitor program, breeding, showmanship, skillathons, dairy cattle, 4-H and the FFA.
Since its inception, the reserve program has distributed $1,163,450 among exhibitors.