(SEDALIA, Mo.) – The Missouri State Fair Grand Champion Youth Lamb Carcass was exhibited by Denver Ernst of Woodburn, IA. Denver is the daughter of Noll and Jolynn Ernst and is a member of the Blue Ribbon Bandits 4-H Club, MO.
The Reserve Grand Champion Youth Lamb Carcass was exhibited by Madison Rapp of Boonville, MO. Madison is the daughter of Justin and Stacy Rapp and is a member of the Family Fun 4-H Club.
On Aug. 22, Denver and Madison will sell their Lamb Carcasses in the Missouri State Fair Best of Missouri Awards & Sale. Proceeds from the sale benefit both the winning exhibitors and the Missouri State Fair Youth in Agriculture (YIA) Scholarship Program.
Many youth 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 Carcasses, Barrow Carcasses, Lamb Carcasses and Meat Goat Carcasses. Award-Winning Missouri Grown Products, Best of Class Missouri Wine Collection, Governor’s Cup Wine 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. 22, 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 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.