COLUMBUS — The WCOL Celeste Center was full of high bids and immense support for youth in agriculture across the state of Ohio during the 2025 Ohio State Fair Sale of Champions Livestock Auction Sunday, Aug. 3.
With a grand total sale of $498,000, $372,000 will fund the Virgil L. Strickler Youth Reserve Program to continue supporting Ohio youth in agriculture and other involved in the Ohio State Fair.
Two Logan County exhibitors made it to the show ring for the Sale of Champions Livestock Auction — Alivia Kinney with her Grand Champion Meat Chickens and Jada Shroyer with her Grand Champion Market Lamb.
Alivia’s Grand Champion Meat Chickens were purchased for $31,000 by Giant Eagle and Fieldale Farms Corporation.
Jada’s Grand Champion Market Lamb was purchased for $35,000 by Faith Driving School, Event Marketing Strategies, Talley Amusements, Ohio Harness Horseman’s Association, The Kroger Company, and AgRevolution, LLC.
In addition, Logan County resident Savannah Thomas’ Grand Champion Guernsey was among seven dairy champions and two supreme dairy showmen who were honored at the auction for the Grand Champion Swiss cheese, produced by Pearl Valley Cheese. It was purchased for $54,000 — a new record — by Vivek Ramaswamy and Mark and Megan Kvamme and family.
The other dairy champions represented with the Grand Champion Swiss cheese were: Grand Champion Ayrshire: Audrey Sidle, Wayne County; Grand Champion Brown Swiss: Kelsie Britton, Ashtabula County; Grand Champion Holstein: Lily Elsass, Auglaize County; Grand Champion Jersey: Cam Cope, Champaign County; Grand Champion Milking Shorthorn: Mackenzie Topp, Auglaize County; Grand Champion Red and White: Lane Francis, Darke County; and supreme showmen: Carissa Pittman of Wayne County and Lillian Finke of Madison County.
While the junior fair exhibitors take great pride in raising quality animals throughout the year, the ultimate goal each year is to be selected as the grand champion. Grand and reserve champion awards are both immense honors for young exhibitors; and with the Virgil L. Strickler Youth Reserve Program and generous buyers, the reward benefits the entire junior fair program as a whole.
“Making it to the Ohio State Fair Sale of Champions is a very difficult feat for each of these young exhibitors and their hard-work, perseverance, and commitment to agriculture was on full display this afternoon,” Ohio Expo Center & State Fairgrounds Executive Director Adam Heffron said. “This Fair is rooted in agriculture, and we could not keep those roots strong without the incredible support of our generous buyers. To our buyers, we thank you.”
In addition, Madison Shatto of Shelby County exhibited the Reserve Grand Champion Market Lamb, which set a new record, selling for $36,000. It was purchased by Giant Eagle.
The Grand Champion Market Beef was exhibited by Champaign County resident Essie McGuire. It was purchased by Steve R. Rauch, Inc. for $75,000
On the other end of the sale, Jada Shroyer and her sister Ava also were among the buyers of Auglaize County resident Braxton Method’s Reserve Grand Champion Market Goat, which sold for $13,000. In addition to the Shroyer sisters, other buyers included OKI, NetSteady, Schmidt’s Sausage Haus, Expo Services, All-American Quarter Horse Congress, and Triangle Talent.
Established in 1995, the Youth Reserve Program was developed to reward junior exhibitors participating in the Ohio State Fair. In 2023, the program was renamed the Virgil L. Strickler Youth Reserve Program in honor of retiring Ohio State Fair General Manager Virgil Strickler, who was instrumental in the creation and implementation of the program. Strickler, who was general manager for 20 years, retired following the 2023 Ohio State Fair.
Funds for the program are made up of the dollars received over the caps that are placed on the amount exhibitors can receive from the Sale of Champions. The funds from the program are distributed among more than 20 scholarships, outstanding market exhibitor program, outstanding breeding exhibitor program, showmanship contests, skillathons, and many other 4-H and FFA activities.
Prior to the sale, the Youth Reserve Program had collected $5,247,150: since its inception, supporting more than 46,470 youth. The purchases made by generous buyers during the auction are tax deductible beyond the market price of the animal and will be directed to the Youth Reserve Program through the Ohio Expositions and State Fair Fund at the Columbus Foundation.
