(SEDALIA, Mo.) – The Grand Champion Ham was exhibited by Kierstyn Lawson of California. Kierstyn is the daughter of Jason and Stephanie Lawson and is a member of the California FFA Chapter.
The Reserve Grand Champion Ham was exhibited by Aubrey Embry of Clarksburg. Aubrey is the daughter of Kent Embry and Debbie Williams and is a member of the Tipton FFA Chapter.
On Aug. 16, Kierstyn and Aubrey will sell their hams in the Missouri State Fair Best of Missouri Awards and Sale. 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 Best of Missouri Awards and Sale. Grand Champion and Reserve Grand Champion Junior Exhibitors will sell their Bacons, Hams, Steer Carcass, Barrow Carcass, Lamb Carcass and Meat Goat Carcass. Award-Winning Missouri Grown Products, Best of Class Missouri Wine Collection, Governor’s Cup Wine Honoree and Best of Class Cheese will also be featured in the auction. The Awards will be held at 10:30 a.m. and the Sale will start at 11:15 a.m., Saturday, Aug. 16, in the Lowell Mohler Assembly Hall. The Sale of Champions will follow the event starting at 1:30 p.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.