COLUMBUS, OH (CRAWFORD COUNTY NOW)—The 2024 Ohio State Fair Sale of Champions livestock auction, held on Sunday at the WCOL Celeste Center, showcased the dedication and hard work of Ohio’s youth in agriculture. The auction exceeded expectations, with total sales reaching $260,500.
More than $134,000 from the sale will fund the Virgil L. Strickler Youth Reserve Program, which supports Ohio youth in agriculture and beyond. “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,” said Ohio Expo Center & State Fairgrounds Executive Director Adam Heffron. “The Fair and especially this sale would not be possible without the generous support of all the dedicated buyers.”
Several new buyers participated in the sale this year, including Springer Mountain Farms, Farmer Boys, Sarka Electric, Dangler Excavating, LLC, and the Ohio Quarter Horse Association. The sale bill included grand and reserve market beef, barrows, meat chickens, lambs, goats, market turkey, and the grand champion Swiss cheese representing seven dairy champions and two supreme dairy showmen.
The Youth Reserve Program, established in 1995 and renamed in 2023 to honor retiring Ohio State Fair General Manager Virgil Strickler, rewards junior exhibitors participating in the Ohio State Fair. This year, $134,500 from the sale will go to the program, which funds scholarships, exhibitor programs, showmanship contests, skillathons, and other 4-H and FFA activities. Since its inception, the program has supported more than 45,400 youth, collecting $5,112,650.
2024 Sale of Champions Results:
- 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 seven dairy champions and two supreme dairy showmen
- Purchased by: A.G. Boogher & Sons, Inc. and American Dairy Association Mideast
- Price: $32,500 (Cap: $9,000)
For more information about the Sale of Champions, call 1-888-OHO-EXPO or 1-614-644-FAIR. Visit ohiostatefair.com for more details.