(SEDALIA, Mo.) – The Grand Champion Pen of Rabbits was exhibited by Carissa Stong of Sheldon. Carissa is the daughter of Dusty and Melissa Stong and is a member of the Nevada FFA Chapter.
The Reserve Grand Champion Pen of Rabbits was exhibited by Kaela Britton of Atlanta. Kaela is the daughter of Travis and Jodi Britton and is a member of the Randolph County 4-H Club.
On Aug. 16, Carissa and Kaela will sell their pen of rabbits in the Missouri State Fair Sale of Champions. Proceeds from the sale benefit both the winning exhibitors and the Missouri State Fair Youth in Agriculture (YIA) Scholarship Program.
Many exhibitors will work toward earning a place in the ring at the time-honored Sale of Champions Auction. Grand Champion and Reserve Grand Champion Steers, Barrows, Lambs, Meat Goats, Pens of Chickens and Pens of Rabbits will be featured in the auction. The Sale will be held at 1:30 p.m., Saturday, Aug. 16, in the Lowell Mohler Assembly Hall, following the Best of Missouri Awards and Sale, starting at 10:30 a.m. The entire auction will be broadcast live by KMMO radio online. The auction will also be live on the Missouri Department of Agriculture’s Facebook page.
Through the generous support of Youth in Agriculture sponsors and the Missouri State Fair Foundation, the Missouri State Fair is able to award scholarships each year to Missouri youth. Last year, forty-two $1,750 scholarships, sponsored by Youth in Agriculture, five $1,750 scholarships, sponsored by MFA, Inc. & MFA Oil Co., nine $2,000 scholarships, sponsored by Bell Trust, four supreme $2,500 scholarships, sponsored by the Missouri State Fair Foundation, one supreme $2,500 scholarship, sponsored by Sydenstricker Nobbe Partners/Sydenstricker Genetics, one $3,500 Sharon Topliff scholarship, sponsored by Youth in Agriculture and one platinum $5,000 S. Wayne Yokley scholarship, sponsored by Youth in Agriculture were awarded to youth across Missouri. Since 1992, the YIA committee has awarded 941 scholarships totaling $1,190,250.
A complete listing of the 2024 Youth in Agriculture sponsors is available on the Fair’s website. A listing of the 2025 sponsors will be posted soon. Anyone interested in becoming a sponsor can visit the Fair’s website to make an online donation. To receive more information about sponsorship, contact Chuck Miller at 573-881-3589, Rodney Heimer at 217-257-6182, or Chip Kemp at 573-239-0524.