The Oct. 10 State Fair of Virginia Youth Livestock Sale of Champions raised $61,000 to support the fair’s long-standing commitment to youth who compete for scholarship money through the State Fair Scholarship Program.
The fair offers youth up to $70,000 each year in scholarship funds through 4-H, FFA and vocational competitions and specific equine, fine arts and horticulture competitions.
“About 300 youth livestock exhibitors participated in this year’s State Fair, and we are proud to showcase their hard work and to invest in their futures,” said Marlene Pierson-Jolliffe, the fair’s executive director. “Raising and showing animals requires significant measures of responsibility and determination. It also nurtures an entrepreneurial spirit and the development of life skills.”
The Sale of Champions featured auction of grand champion and reserve champion market animals from this year’s 4-H and FFA youth livestock shows:
- Grand Champion Beef, exhibited by Nicole Kibler of Shenandoah County and purchased for $15,000 by DOTS Beef, Kroger, James River Equipment, Justice Family Farms, Seven Hills Foods and Virginia Club Calf Producers
- Reserve Champion Beef, exhibited by Cody Boden of Frederick County and purchased for $9,000 by Youth Livestock Fund contributors Augusta Cooperative; Boehringer Ingelheim Vetmedica Inc.; Cargill Turkey & Cooked Meats; CFC Farm and Home; E.J. Wade Foundation; Lakeview Tack Shop; Locust Hill Farm; Pryoville Farm; Purina Mills LLC; Keith Simmons & Family; Tiki Tea Inc.; Virginia Feed Association; Virginia Grain Producers Association; and Virginia Shorthorn Association
- Grand Champion Hog, exhibited by Parker Woodruff of Virginia Beach and purchased for $10,000 by Smithfield Foods
- Reserve Champion Hog, exhibited by Zach McCall of Augusta County and purchased for $7,000 by Glenmary Farms LLC, Hog Slat, Ironsides Animal Health, Land of Promise Farms, Premium Blend Genetics and Stohlquist Showpigs
- Grand Champion Lamb, exhibited by Ryan Gobble of Washington County and purchased for $6,100 by Addington Equipment Limosine, Everett Farms Inc. and Virginia Soybean Association
- Reserve Champion Lamb, exhibited by Sarah-Jane French of Cumberland County and purchased for $4,000 by Brandt and Land of Promise Farms
- Grand Champion Goat, exhibited by Chet Boden of Frederick County and purchased for $5,200 by CPS, James River Equipment, Pioneer, Virginia Beach Farm Bureau and Weller & Associates LLC
- Reserve Champion Goat, exhibited by Leah Greiner of Montgomery County and purchased for $4,100 by Greiner Group, Hickory Hill Farm, Land of Promise Farms and Peoples Auction Company
The 2016 State Fair of Virginia will run from Sept. 23 through Oct. 2. Information is available at StateFairVa.org.
The State Fair is held each fall at its permanent home at The Meadow Event Park in Caroline County. The fair’s mission is to increase agricultural and natural resource awareness and interest through educational programs, exhibitions and competitions in a fun, family-friendly setting.
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