Here’s a round-up of stories from the Missouri State Fair.
Swine Skillathon Winners Announced at Missouri State Fair
On Aug. 8, FFA and 4-H members participated in the 2024 Youth Swine Skillathon at the Missouri State Fair in Sedalia. Participants competed in three age brackets during the contest, which is sponsored by the Missouri Pork Association and the University of Missouri Extension.
In the age 12 and under division, first place went to Colton Hawkins from Green Ridge. Greenley Curtis from Thompson placed second, and Anniston Curtis from Thompson received third.
In the age 13-15 division, Michaela Miller from Bogard received first, Scarlett Miller from Bogard received second, and third place went to Rhett Forkner from Richards.
In the age 16 and older division, Mason Forkner from Richards placed first, Ethan Strobel from Russellville received second, and third place went to Lillian Letterman from Conway.
The top three winners in each category received a cash award, and the top individual in each category also received a plaque.
The first part of the three-stage contest is a hands-on swine management test including breed identification, equipment identification, ear notching, calculating medication withdrawal times, figuring growth performance, identifying pork carcass wholesale and retail cuts, environmental issues and feed ingredient identification. The second section is a short quiz that covers current events and general information about the swine industry in Missouri, the U.S. and internationally. The final stage is a 5-minute personal interview about their swine project and the Youth Pork Quality Assurance Plus Program.
Missouri Students Take Home Top Awards in Judging Contest
On Aug. 15, 78 FFA and 4-H members participated in the 2024 Swine Judging Contest. Winners were announced in the novice, junior, senior and pro division. The top individual was recognized in each division, in addition to high overall team. The contest, sponsored by the Missouri Pork Association, consisted of four swine judging classes and two sets of 5 questions. Prizes were sponsored by Perry Genetics, Croy Farms and Will Menne Family. Each member of the top team in each division received a bucket, and top individuals were awarded chairs to recognize their accomplishment.
In the pro division, high team overall was awarded to Mizzou GDI which included Tucker Robnett, Alaina Link and Carlee Long. The top individual went to Taylor Burns.
In the senior division, high team overall was awarded to the All Stars with team members Lindsay McDonald, Aurora Hilkerbaumer, Carson Coram and Michaela Miller. The top individual was awarded to Braden Dennison.
In the junior division, high team overall went to The Blue Butts. Team members included Mesa Tiemann, Aubree Sloan, Trynleigh Porter and Greenley Curtis. The top individual was presented to Mesa Tiemann.
In the novice division, high team overall was awarded to the Spotty Too Hotties which included Addy Sloan, Carlee Sloan, Anniston Curtis and Chesney Brock. The top individual was awarded to Addy Sloan.
Sale of Champions Draws Big Crowd
The Missouri State Fair celebrated youth in agriculture on Aug. 17. The annual Sale of Champions highlighted the day, along with the inaugural Best of Missouri Sale, raising a total of over $350,000 for youth involved in agriculture.
The Grand Champion Barrow was exhibited by Cole Murphy of Houstonia. Cole is the son of Brent and DeEtta Murphy and is a member of the Sweet Springs FFA Chapter. His 281-pound crossbred hog was purchased for $31,500 by Edward Jones, Youth in Agriculture and hometown supporters.
Kade Jackson of Lathrop showed the Reserve Grand Champion Barrow. Kade is the son of Zeb and Brandy Jackson and is a member of the Liberty 4-H Club. Kade’s 275-pound Crossbred barrow was purchased for $26,000 by Climate Corp Field View, Youth in Agriculture and hometown supporters.
Results from the 2024 Missouri State Fair Growth & Quality Barrow Classic
Almost 40 hogs from across the state were entered in the Growth & Quality Barrow Classic. The Classic was sponsored by the Missouri Pork Association, University of Missouri Extension and the Missouri Department of Agriculture.
The overall winner went to Lyla Bolinger from Moniteau County for a Duroc barrow weighing 277 lb. and a 0.51 FFLG lb. per day. Madison Wolf from Livingston County received second with a crossbred barrow weighing 265 lb. and a 0.55 FFLG lb. per day. The overall grand champion winner received $1,006 in prize money and the reserve champion received $587 in prize money. Additional prize money was awarded to the Top 10 carcass placings.
New this year, the top junior exhibitor of the Growth and Quality Barrow Classic participated in the Best of Missouri Sale on Aug. 17. The grand champion pork carcass was exhibited by Lyla Bolinger of California. Lyla is the daughter of Clint and Jalin Bolinger and is a member of the Busy Bee 4-H Club. Her pork carcass sold for $5,500 and was purchased by the Missouri Pork Association, Youth in Ag, and hometown supporters.
The purpose of the Growth & Quality Barrow Classic is to promote and recognize the pork industry in Missouri; supply quality carcass evaluation information to producers; recognize the carcass qualities which the industry desires, and to promote the economical performance trait of lean gain per day.
Participants signed up for the contest in March through an intent to participate form. A birthweight is recorded at this time. Barrows are then weighed and tattooed at the Missouri State Fair. All barrows are evaluated on three main categories: 1) visual appraisal, 2) fat-free lean gain and 3) pork quality. They are measured for 10th rib fat and loin muscle at the time of weigh-in by a certified technician. Immediately following the live show, barrows are loaded for processing and evaluated for carcass quality which includes color, pH, marbling and tenderness. This year, barrows were processed at the University of Missouri Meat Laboratory in Columbia, Mo.
