Columbus, OH (WLIO) - An Auglaize County teen has a record-breaking day at the Ohio State Fair. Ryleigh Egbert sold her Grand Champion Market Steer to S & S Volvo of Lima for $225,000. The Reserve Champion Market Steer shown by Delaney Jones from Allen County went for $100,00. Nick Adams from Mercer County got $66,000 for the Grand Champion Market Barrow. Elizabeth Shatto from Shelby County sold her Grand Champion Market Lamb for $47,000. Braxton Method from Auglaize County sold his Grand Champion Market Goat for $27,000. 11 records were broken during the sale and the total sale was 676 thousand 500 dollars. Over half a million dollars of that amount will be donated to the sale to the youth reserve program to support scholarships and other 4-H and FFA activities.
Media release from Ohio State Fair
COLUMBUS – For the first time in its history, the Ohio State Fair Sale of Champions livestock auction, held this afternoon in the WCOL Celeste Center, shattered historical records, totaling $676,500. Over half of a million dollars will be donated from the Sale to the Youth Reserve Program.
 The Sale of Champions showcased Ohio’s premium livestock, junior fair exhibitors, and generous supporters. The sale bill included grand and reserve champion market beef, market barrows, market chickens, and market lambs, as well as the grand champion market goat, market turkey and a block of Swiss cheese to represent the seven dairy champions. In full, the livestock was auctioned for a total of $676,500.
“I don’t have the words to properly express how grateful I am for this fairtastic, record-breaking Sale of Champions,” said Ohio State Fair General Manager Virgil Strickler. “I am so proud of the junior fair livestock exhibitors and their hard work and dedication they show the livestock, and will be eternally grateful for the support of our buyers.”
While these junior fair exhibitors take great pride in raising quality animals, the ultimate goal each year is to be selected as the grand champion premium option. Grand and reserve champion are both immense honors for exhibitors; and with the Youth Reserve Program and generous buyers, it is rewarding for the entire Junior Fair program as a whole. This year’s sale broke all eleven records: grand and reserve champion market beef, grand and reserve champion market barrow, grand and reserve champion market lamb, grand champion market goat, grand and reserve champion pen of meat chickens, grand champion market turkey, and grand champion Swiss cheese.
“These young people represent the core values of agriculture in our great state of Ohio,” Strickler said. “I am extremely grateful to the many generous buyers who support the current champions as well as the bright futures of the young exhibitors involved in our junior livestock show, as well as other youth including the All-Ohio State Fair Band and Youth Choir, art competitors, Junior Fair Board members, and others.”
Another historic first from the 2022 Sale of Champions; the Grand Champion Market Beef shown by Ryleigh Egbert from Auglaize County sold for $225,000 beating the previous record from 2011 of $85,000 by $140,000. This is the highest bid on any animal ever since the Sale of Champions began in 1968.
Established in 1995, the Youth Reserve Program was developed to reward junior exhibitors participating in the Ohio State Fair. The 2022 Sale of Champions will donate $588,000 to enrich Ohio youth.
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 carcass contests, more than 20 scholarships, outstanding market exhibitor programs, outstanding breeding exhibitor programs, showmanship contests, skillathons, and many other 4-H and FFA activities. Prior to today’s sale, the Youth Reserve Program had collected $4,103,150 since its inception, supporting more than 44,000 youth.Â
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The 2022 Sale of Champions results are as follows: Â
*Grand Champion Market BeefÂ
Exhibited by: Ryleigh Egbert, Auglaize County
Purchased by: S&S Volvo
Price: $225,000
Cap: $22,000
*Reserve Grand Champion Market BeefÂ
Exhibited by: Delaney Jones, Allen County
Purchased by: Steve R. Rauch, Inc., Ohio Transparent Telecom, along with Mark and Megan Kvamme and family
Price: $100,000
Cap: $11,000
*Grand Champion Market BarrowÂ
Exhibited by: Nick Adams, Mercer County
Purchased by: Bob Evans, Ohio Farm Bureau Federation, and The Kroger Company
Price: $66,000
Cap: $10,000
*Reserve Grand Champion Market BarrowÂ
Exhibited by: Mallory Petro, Gallia County
Purchased by: Mark and Megan Kvamme and family
Price: $52,500
Cap: $7,000
 *Grand Champion Meat Chickens
Exhibited by: Delaney Johnson, Jefferson County
Purchased by: Kroger and Gerber Poultry
Price: $31,000
Cap: $6,000
 *Reserve Champion Meat Chickens
Exhibited by: Caleb Bennett, Fayette County
Purchased by: Steve R. Rauch, Inc.
Price: $24,000
Cap: $4,000
*Grand Champion Market LambÂ
Exhibited by: Elizabeth Shatto, Shelby County
Purchased by: Event Marketing Strategies, The Kroger Company, Ohio Harness Horseman’s Association, and Talley Amusements
Price: $47,000
Cap: $10,000
*Reserve Grand Champion Market LambÂ
Exhibited by: Caleb Stone, Miami County
Purchased by: Meijer Inc.
Price: $30,000
Cap: $7,000
*Grand Champion Market GoatÂ
Exhibited by: Braxton Method, Auglaize County
Purchased by: Mark and Megan Kvamme and Family
Price: $27,000*
Cap: $5,000
 *Grand Champion Market Turkey
Exhibited by: Madison Estep, Madison County
Purchased by: OKI Inc., Cox Concessions, Schmidt’s, NetSteady, SP+, and Expo Services
Price: $25,000
Cap: $3,000
*Grand Champion Swiss Cheese, produced by Guggisberg Cheese Factory, representing the seven dairy champions and two supreme dairy showmen
Exhibited by:Â
Grand Champion Ayrshire: Logan Topp, Auglaize County
Grand Champion Brown Swiss: Madelyn Topp, Auglaize County
Grand Champion Guernsey: Aubree Topp, Shelby County
Grand Champion Holstein: Hannah Griffith, Brown County
Grand Champion Jersey: Blake Greiwe, Shelby County
Grand Champion Red and White: Allison Francis, Darke County
Grand Champion Milking Shorthorn: Christina Headings, Union County
Supreme Showman, Week 1 – Exhibited by: Olivia Fine, Madison County
Supreme Showman, Week 2 – Exhibited by: Madelyn Topp, Shelby County
Purchased by: AG Boogher & Sons, S&S Volvo, Turner Grain
Price: $50,000
Cap: $3,500
2022 total sale: $676,500
2022 amount earned for Youth Reserve Program: $588,000
*Denotes new record Â
For more information about the Sales of Champions, call 1-888-OHO-EXPO or 1-614-644-FAIR. On the Web, visit us at ohiostatefair.com.
We look forward to seeing you at the 2023 Ohio State Fair, July 26 – to Aug. 6 with a spectacular midway, big-name entertainment, hundreds of exhibits, and one of the largest junior fair shows in the nation.
