LIVESTOCK FETCH RECORD PRICES AT SALE OF CHAMPIONS

Records fall at state fair’s Sale of Champions

Dougie, a 1,338-pound cow, encouraged buyers with a loud “moo” to break a record at the 52nd annual Ohio State Fair Sale of Champions on Sunday.

His mooing paid off, and the Reserve Grand Champion Market Beef winner was sold to Meijer, Steve R. Rauch, Inc. and Mark and Megan Kvammme for $56,000 — the largest and a record-breaking sale. The previous record was $55,000 paid by Meijer in 2014.

Delaney Jones, the cow’s owner, was filled with tears of joy and speechless backstage. Jones, 13, of Allen County in western Ohio, has been bringing cows to the state fair for the past four years and was “amazed” by her victory.

The Sale of Champions takes place every year at the Celeste Center on the last day of the state fair. Gov. Mike Dewine and his wife Frances also came from Dayton following the mass shooting to celebrate the children involved in the sale.

The Sale of Champions started in 1968 as a way for young people involved in the Future Farmers of America and 4-H to exhibit livestock at the state fair.

The Ohio Expositions Commission created a new program in 1995 so that 25% would be distributed to youth exhibitors as part of the Youth Reserve Program. The program distributes the funds among multiple groups, including FFA, 4-H, scholarships and exhibitor programs.

Categories of livestock include turkeys, goats, chickens, lambs, barrow and beef.

Riley Wendt, 13, of Dublin, is the owner of the 280-pound cross-breed pig that won

Reserve Grand Champion Barrow and sold for $35,000 to Kroger.

Other Wendt family members have competed in the state fair during the 13 years she has attended, but it is the first time someone has won. Her dad, Kevin, has also

helped auction for the Sale of Champions in the past.

“It’s cool to be in the ring and not watching from outside it,” Riley Wendt said.

Johnathan Woodward, 13, of Coshocton, has been coming to the state fair every year of his life. His turkey,

BB, or Big Bird, won Grand Champion Market Turkey and sold to Cooper Farms, Kale Marketing and other buyers for a record-breaking $16,500.

He sold his horse and other turkeys so he could build a turkey barn to raise heritage breed turkeys.

“I had turkey’s in my mom’s horse barn,” Woodward said. “She didn’t like that.”

Now, he has about 40 turkeys and brought five to the state fair.

The Reserve Grand Champion Market Lamb named Dopey sold for $27,500 to Meijer, beating the previous record by Mark and Megan Kvamme of $25,500 in 2014.

The total sales from the Sale of Champions was over $320,000.

[ERIC ALBRECHT/DISPATCH] Ringman Todd Woodruff calls out a bid while Johnathan Woodward shows his Grand Champion Market Turkey BB during the Sale of Champions at the Ohio State Fair.

[ERIC ALBRECHT/DISPATCH PHOTOS] Delaney Jones, right, is overcome with emotion and is congratulated by her friend Montana Hulsmeyer after selling her Reserve Grand Champion Market Beef cow Dougie for a record $56,000.

Elijah Kaplinger shows his Grand Champion Market Barrow with the help of his sister Clara Kaplinger, 2, at the Sale of Champions. The pig sold for $33,000.