The Missouri State Fair Sale of Champions broke records this year, raising nearly $186,000 to support Youth In Agriculture Scholarships. Chillicothe youth had two of the 16 lots offered at this year’s State Fair.
The Grand Champion Barrow was exhibited by Connor Keithley of Chillicothe, MO. son of Chad and Betsy Keithley, Keithley is a member of the Chillicothe FFA Chapter. His 225-pound Crossbred hog was purchased for $7,800 by Missouri State Fair Concessionaires and Commercial Exhibitors. This was a record amount raised by the Concessionaires. Additional funds were also contributed by Youth in Agriculture and hometown supporters resulting in a record-breaking final selling price of $44,573. This is the largest amount an exhibitor has ever received for their animal in the history of the Sale of Champions! The pork was donated to Feeding Missouri.
The Grand Champion Meat Goat was exhibited by Rylee Anderson of Chillicothe, MO, daughter of Brad and Lori Anderson. Anderson is a member of the Liberty 4-H Club. Her Boer goat weighed 79 pounds and was purchased for $4,250 by the Mizzou Sigma Alpha-Alpha Chi Sorority, the Mizzou Independent Aggies, the Mizzou Alpha Gamma Rho Fraternity and the Mizzou College of Agriculture, Food & Natural Resources – Division of Animal Sciences. Additional funds were also contributed by Youth in Agriculture and hometown supporters resulting in a record-breaking final selling price of $17,369. The goat was donated to the University of Missouri Livestock Judging Team.
The final lot of the day was the Limited Edition Sale of Champions Commemorative Belt Buckle that was purchased by Keithley Farms/Chad & Betsy Kiethley of Chillicothe for $1,600.
