(SEDALIA, Mo.) – Molly Strozewski, daughter of Jake and Jill Strozewski, is the exhibitor of the 2023 Grand Champion Pen of Rabbits at the Missouri State Fair. Molly is from Lincoln, and is a member of the Independent Benton County 4-H Club. Molly’s prize-winning pen had an average weight of 4.6 pounds.
The Reserve Grand Champion Pen of Rabbits honor went to Wren Coats of Braymer. She is the daughter of Shawn and Nichole Coats and is a member of the Braymer FFA. Wren’s pen had an average weight of 4.5 pounds.
On Saturday Aug. 19, both Molly and Wren will sell their pens in two of 16 lots offered in the Missouri State Fair Sale of Champions. Proceeds from the annual sale benefit both the winning exhibitors and the Missouri State Fair Youth in Agriculture (YIA) Scholarship Program, administered by the Missouri State Fair Foundation.
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, along with the Grand and Reserve Grand Champion Hams and Bacons. The Sale will be held at 1:30 p.m., Saturday, Aug. 19, in the Lowell Mohler Assembly Hall. 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 and live online bidding will be available via LiveAuctions.tv.
Through the generous support of YIA sponsors and the Missouri State Fair Foundation, the Missouri State Fair is able to award scholarships each year to Missouri youth. Last year, forty-eight $1,500 scholarships, one supreme $2,500 scholarship, sponsored by Sydenstricker Nobbe Partners/Sydenstricker Genetics, four supreme $2,500 scholarships, sponsored by the Missouri State Fair Foundation, one $3,500 Sharon Topliff scholarship and one $5,000 S. Wayne Yokley platinum scholarship offered by YIA supporters were awarded to youth across Missouri. Since 1992, the YIA committee has awarded 816 scholarships totaling $968,000.
A complete listing of the 2022 YIA sponsors is available on the Fair’s website. A listing of the 2023 sponsors will be posted soon. Anyone interested in becoming a sponsor this year, or receiving more information about sponsorship, can visit the Fair’s website, or contact Chuck Miller at 573-881-3589, Rodney Heimer at 217-257-6182, or Chip Kemp at 573-239-0524.