COLUMBUS — The Ohio State Fair Sale of Champions set seven new records and topped the $2 million milestone for the youth reserve program.
The sale, held Aug. 5 at the WCOL Celesete Center, raised a record $329,550, with $249,550 going toward the youth program, which helps fund scholarships and youth programs for exhibitors.
Records were set for grand champion Swiss cheese ($18,300) grand champion turkey ($11,500), grand champion meat goat ($12,750), grand ($30,000) and reserve grand champion meat chickens ($18,000) and grand ($46,000) and reserve grand champion market lamb ($25,000).
Funds for the program come from the dollars received over a cap that is placed on the amount an exhibitor can receive from the Sale of Champions.
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Bobby Moser, Dean of Ohio State University’s College of Food, Agriculture and Environmental Sciences, said the sale “is an investment in youth.”
Funds from the youth program have now been awarded to more than 28,000 youth exhibitors. The youth reserve program has been in place since 1995.
The fair’s general manager, Virgil Strickler, said the records were great for the champions who sold their animals, and the whole program.
“You have made our state fair the greatest youth program in the whole nation,” he said prior to the auction.
It was the 45th state fair sale of champions. Auctioneer were Johnny Regula, Kevin Wendt, Steve Andrews and Todd Woodruff.
