(SEDALIA, Mo.) – The Missouri State Fair Grand Champion Pen of Chickens was exhibited by Judd Lawson of Schell City. Judd is the son of Bob and Susan Lawson and is a member of the Osage River 4-H Club.
The Reserve Grand Champion Pen of Chickens was exhibited by Laynee Morgan of Goodman. Laynee is the daughter of Chris and Danetta Morgan and is a member of the Neosho FFA Chapter.
On Aug. 22, Judd and Laynee will sell their Pen of Chickens 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. 22, 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 State Fair Livestock and Building Exhibitors’ Facebook page.
Through the generous support of Youth in Agriculture sponsors, the Missouri State Fair is able to award scholarships each year to Missouri youth. Last year, forty $1,750 scholarships, sponsored by Youth in Agriculture Supporters, five $1,750 scholarships, sponsored by MFA, Inc. Charitable Foundation, ten $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 Supporters and one platinum $5,000 Wayne Yokley scholarship, sponsored by Youth in Agriculture Supporters were awarded to youth across Missouri. Since 1992, the YIA committee has awarded 1,003 scholarships totaling $1,310,000.
A complete listing of the 2025 Youth in Agriculture sponsors is available on the Fair’s website. A listing of the 2026 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.