The 2024 Ohio State Fair concluded with a bang as the Sale of Champions provided a boost to Ohio’s youth participating in various agriculture projects throughout the state.
The fair reported a total of $260,500 in sales for this year. The Virgil L. Stickler Youth Reserve Program received $134,000 from the sales, which will enable them to keep providing aid to agriculture programs dedicated to the youth of the state.
The exhibitors surpassed the top dollar amount in all caps, and any excess proceeds were allocated to the Stickler youth program.
According to a statement by the Executive Director of Ohio Expo Center and State Fairgrounds, Adam Heffron, the junior fair livestock exhibitors showcased an impressive display of their year-long effort at the Ohio State Fair. He further expressed his appreciation for the generous support of all the dedicated buyers, without whom this sale and the fair itself would not have been possible.
This year’s auction featured the sale of grand and reserve market beef, barrows, meat chickens, lambs, goats, and turkey. Additionally, the grand champion Swiss cheese was also sold to lucky bidders.
According to a statement from the fair, the Youth Reserve Program, which was created in 1995, allocates its funds towards over 20 scholarships, including those for outstanding market exhibitors and breeding exhibitors, as well as various 4-H and FFA activities such as showmanship contests and skillathons.
Check out the results of the 2024 Sale of Champions 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, and 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.
