(Sale of Champion Results. Scroll down for story.)
Grand Champion Market Beef
Exhibited by: Brooke Egbert, Auglaize County
Purchased by: Steve Rauch Excavation and Demolition
Price: $45,000
Cap: $22,000
Reserve Grand Champion Market Beef
Exhibited by: Caden Jones, Allen County
Purchased by: Kroger Company
Price: $33,000
Cap: $11,000
Grand Champion Market Barrow
Exhibited by: Ashton Frey, Wyandot County
Purchased by: Bob Evans Farms, Ohio Farm Bureau Federation , Event Marketing Strategies, Huffman’s Market, Amusements of America
Price: $36,000
Cap: $10,000
Reserve Grand Champion Market Barrow
Exhibited by: Lea Kimley, Clark County
Purchased by: Meijer
Price: $30,000
Cap: $7,000
Grand Champion Meat Chickens
Exhibited by: Kady Davis, Carroll County
Purchased by: Kroger Company and Gerber Poultry
Price: $13,000
Cap: $6,000
Reserve Champion Meat Chickens
Exhibited by: Remington Price, Hancock County
Purchased by: Kroger Company and Gerber Poultry
Price: $12,000
Cap: $4,000
Grand Champion Market Lamb
Exhibited by: Kylee Johnson, Wayne County
Purchased by: Kroger Company
Price: $23,000
Cap : $10,000
Reserve Grand Champion Market Lamb
Exhibited by: Paige Pence, Clark County
Purchased by: AG Boogher and Sons and S & S Volvo
Price: $20,500
Cap: $7,000
Grand Champion Market Goat
Exhibited by: Taylor Carr, Athens County
Purchased by: Kale Marketing, Ohio Harness Horseman’s Association, Denny Miller Direct Feeds
Price: $15,000
Cap: $5,000
Grand Champion Market Turkey
Exhibited by: Zac Ortman, Perry County
Purchased by : Cooper Farms, Weaver Brothers, Trillium Farms, Hillandale Farms of Ohio, Hemmelgarn and Sons, Hertzfeld Poultry Farm, Cal Maine Foods, R. W. Sauder , Midwest Poultry Service, Prairie Star Farms and Wendel Poultry Service.
Price : $16,000*
Cap: $3,000
Grand Champion Swiss Cheese: Produced by Guggisberg Cheese Co., representing the seven dairy champions and supreme dairy showmen:
Exhibited by: Grand Champion Ayrshire: Trevor Greiwe, Logan County;
Grand Champion Brown Swiss: Madelyn Topp, Auglaize County;
Grand Champion Guernsey : Alex Richardson, Auglaize County;
Grand Champion Holstein: Olivia Finke, Madison County
Grand Champion Jersey: Keaton Topp, Auglaize County
Grand Champion Red and White: Olivia Finke, Madison County
Grand Champion Milking Shorthorn: Aubrey Topp, Auglaize County
Supreme Showman, Week 1 – Exhibited by: Becca Vales, Holmes County
Supreme Showman, Week 2 – Exhibited by: Will Hughes, Holmes County
Purchased by: S & S Volvo and AG Boogher and Sons
Price: $26,000*
Cap: $3,500
2016 total sale: $269,500
Amount earned for Youth Reserve Program in 2016: $181,000
COLUMBUS — The Ohio State Fair marked the 49th Sale of Champions Aug. 7 by holding a moment of silence for long-time fair supporter, former Ohio governor and U.S. Sen. George Voinovich, who died June 12.
Voinovich was an avid supporter of the fair and livestock auction, and he and his wife, Janet, were inducted into the Ohio State Fair Hall of Fame in 1999. One of the buildings, the Voinovich Livestock and Trade Center, is named in his honor.
George and Janet’s children were recognized before the start of this year’s auction, which brought a total of $269,500.
Youth programs
Of that amount, $181,000 went to the Youth Reserve Program — a program designed in 1995 that sets “caps” or limits on how much a livestock exhibitor can earn, with the remainder going toward programs that support other 4-H and FFA members, including carcass contests, scholarships, the outstanding market exhibitor program, outstanding breeding exhibitor program, showmanship and skillathons.
The program has awarded more than $3 million to approximately 33,000 youth exhibitors since its inception.
Fair General Manager Virgil Strickler thanked the youth, their parents and the buyers for another successful year. Thanks to a healthy poultry flock, live poultry exhibits were welcomed back to the fair, after being canceled last year due to concerns over avian influenza.
Skillathon excellence
New this year, two youth were recognized as Skillathon Excellence Award winners — a contest that challenges youth to participate in all nine skillathon areas. The top two finishers were Jacob Wenner and Clara Selle, both from Delaware County.
Ohio Ag Director David Daniels said the sale of champions is “the capstone” of the fair, and everything it stands for.
He told the buyers to “think of this sale as an investment in the new leaders of tomorrow, because that’s what we’re doing here at the state fair, and that’s what’s going on back in our local … clubs.”
Lots of support
The 12-day fair drew a crowd of more than 921,000, and was the second largest on record, since going to 12 days in 2004.
Auctioneers were Johnny Regula, Steve Andrews, Todd Woodruff and Kevin Wendt.
Fair commissioners were: Tamara Brown, Tom Charles, Dave Daniels, Andrew Doehrel, State Rep. Brian Hill, State Sen. Cliff Hite, Jennifer K. Lynch, David Madison, Tom Price, Steve Reinhard, Gregory Simpson, Doug White, and Jim Zehringer.
