(SEDALIA, Mo.) – Missouri State Fair Director Jason Moore announced today that 62 youth, selected from Missouri 4-H and FFA State Fair exhibitors, will be awarded scholarships by the Missouri State Fair and the Youth in Agriculture (YIA) committee. These students are seeking higher education at a university/college of their choice and will be recognized on April 16, 2026 during the annual State FFA Convention in Columbia.
Scholarship applicants were evaluated in a variety of areas including Missouri State Fair participation, grade point average, community involvement and leadership roles. Since 1992, the Youth in Agriculture committee has now awarded 1,003 scholarships totaling $1,310,000.
The scholarships are funded through the generosity of Youth in Agriculture sponsors and buyers of the livestock sold during the Best of Missouri Awards and Sale and Sale of Champions auction; the sponsors and buyers lists are available on the Youth in Agriculture page. A portion of each animal’s total sale value is allocated to the scholarship program. Support of the scholarship program was also provided by Betty Jane Bell Trust, BTC Bank, Edward Jones and Associates, MFA Inc. Charitable Foundation, Missouri State Fair Concessionaires, Missouri State Fair Foundation, The Climate Fieldview Corp., Hayden Freedom Foundation, and Wheeler Auctions.
John Brodey Bartlett, of Marshall, has been selected to receive the $5,000 S. Wayne Yokley Platinum Scholarship sponsored by Youth in Agriculture supporters.
Elliott Cooley, of Windsor, has been selected to receive the $3,500 Sharon Topliff Scholarship, sponsored by Youth in Agriculture supporters.
Rhett Forkner, of Richards, has been selected to receive the $2,500 supreme scholarship, sponsored by Sydenstricker Nobbe Partners/Sydenstricker Genetics.
The youth chosen to receive $2,500 supreme scholarships, sponsored by the Missouri State Fair Foundation, are:
- Kristin Waters, Norborne
- Kelsey Carter, Montrose
- Savannah Miller, Jonesburg
- Gage Davis, Nelson
The youth chosen to receive $2,000 scholarships, sponsored by Bell Trust, are:
- Jorja Ebert, Polo
- Bailee Vogel, Marshall
- Brock Pitt, Norborne
- Addison Shipp, Keytesville
- Austin Doerhoff, Henley
- Braydon Cull, Chillicothe
- Seth Engeman, Montrose
- Ava Ancell, Macon
- Beau Ann Graves, Chillicothe
- Braxton Switzer, Bucklin
The youth chosen to receive $1,750 scholarships, sponsored by MFA, Inc. Charitable Foundation, are:
- Marah Greiman, Monroe City
- J. Grayden Woodcock, Macon
- Sophia Speichinger, Mendon
- Joanna Rhea, Houstonia
- Krista Cokerham, Meadville
The youth chosen to receive $1,750 scholarships, sponsored by Youth in Agriculture supporters, are:
- Callie Gann, Boonville
- Courtney Sparks, St. Catharine
- TJ Belt, Leonard
- Gracelynn Barnett, Chillicothe
- Delaney Duncan, Pleasant Hill
- Raylyn Wilfong, Tipton
- Marshall Kable, Centralia
- Kale Batson, Trenton
- Lydia Nolting, Lamar
- Brier Day, Marshfield
- Jersey Rowe, New Cambria
- Jaiden Rodenberg, Wheeling
- Justin Schutter, Kirksville
- Colby Walkup, Agency
- Clara Harden, Rolla
- Hannah Williams, Amsterdam
- Ashtyn Johnson, Sweet Springs
- Allee Prescott, Coffey
- Saige Garner, Belle
- Macy Martin, Springfield
- Braylin Brunkhorst, Centralia
- Mealiea Cover, Bowling Green
- Adelynn Barber, Elsberry
- Allie Wagner, Pierce City
- Payden Crain, Madison
- Kampbell Thomas, Republic
- Carman Woodworth, Chillicothe
- Selby Hulse, Hannibal
- Mackenzie Schmutzler, Savannah
- Zada Ketchum, Downing
- Kate Fischer, St. Joseph
- Blain Kusgen, California
- Jordan Brinkman, Foley
- Benjamin Brubaker, Chillicothe
- Makayla McCurdy, Wellsville
- Sari Rogers, Princeton
- Aubrey Youse, Paris
- Marshal Stauffer, El Dorado Springs
- Blair Bergsieker, Higginsville
- Trinity Dreckshage, Shelbyville
The Youth in Agriculture committee is comprised of volunteers from across the state who work throughout the year to raise funds for the Best of Missouri Awards and Sale, Sale of Champions auction and scholarships. This year’s Best of Missouri Awards and Sale and Sale of Champions will be held on Saturday, Aug. 22 in the Lowell Mohler Assembly Hall on the Fairgrounds.
Learn more about Youth in Agriculture on the Youth in Agriculture page.