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Sisters Alexandra, left, and Alivia Kinney exhibited the Grand Champion Market Turkey and the Reserve Grand Champion Market Turkey, respectively, at the state fair. (OHIO AG NET PHOTO)

BY THE CHRONICLE STAFF

COLUMBUS - Three Logan County residents, including two siblings, capped off their experiences exhibiting livestock at the Ohio State Fair by participating in the 2026 Sale of Champions Livestock Auction Sunday, Aug. 9.

DeGraff resident Jada Shroyer’s Grand Champion Market Goat was purchased for $12,000 by The Kroger Company.

Sisters Alexandra Kinney and Alivia Kinney of Lewistown exhibited the Grand Champion Market Turkey and the Reserve Grand Champion Market Turkey, respectively, at the state fair.

Alexandra’s top turkey was sold for $22,000 from A.G. Boogher and Sons, Cooper Farms, Mark and Megan Kvamme and Family, The O.H.I.O. Fund and Turner Green LLC.

The Reserve Grand Champion Market Turkey is a new addition to the Sale of Champions in 2026. Alivia’s reserve turkey received a winning bid of $15,000 from Mark and Megan Kvamme and Family.

At this prestigious event, the top market animals exhibited at the State Fair are auctioned to generous buyers, with proceeds being divided between the champions and thousands of other State Fair exhibitors by way of the Virgil L. Strickler Youth Reserve Program.

With a grand total sale of $396,500, the $267,500 raised above the established cap will support the Virgil L. Strickler Youth Reserve Program. With 100 percent of proceeds going directly back to Ohio youth, the program creates opportunities through scholarships, agricultural education, leadership development and other programs across the state.

"The Sale of Champions showed just how strongly Ohio believes in supporting its young people. The generosity of our buyers is a meaningful recognition of everything these champions have accomplished and the hard work it took to get here,” Governor Mike DeWine said.

The Virgil L. Strickler Youth Reserve Program distributes funds to more than 20 scholarships, the Outstanding Market Exhibitor Program, the Outstanding Breeding Exhibitor Program, FFA, 4-H, skillathons, All-Ohio State Fair Band and All-Ohio State Fair Youth Choir.

Contributions made above the market value of each animal are tax deductible and benefit the program through the Ohio Expositions and State Fair Fund at The Columbus Foundation. Prior to this year’s sale, the Youth Reserve Program had distributed $5,619,150 to benefit more than 45,000 Ohio youth.

Other 2026 Sale of Champions results are as follows:

Grand Champion Market Beef

Exhibited by: Rees Toler – Gallia County 
Purchased by: Steve R. Rauch, Inc.
Price: $55,000
Cap: $25,000

Reserve Grand Champion Market Beef

Exhibited by: Addie Wilson – Harrison County 
Purchased by: Steve R. Rauch, Inc.
Price: $55,000
Cap: $18,000

Grand Champion Market Barrow

Exhibited by: Parker Elchinger – Henry County 
Purchased by: Nationwide, Ohio Farm Bureau Federation and Bob Evans Farms
Price: $50,000
Cap: $13,000

Reserve Grand Champion Market Barrow

Exhibited by: Victoria Gossard – Allen County 
Purchased by: A.G. Boogher and Sons, The Kroger Company, Expo Services, Ohio Harness Horsemen’s Association, All-American Quarter Horse Congress, OKI and Schmidt's Sausage Haus 
Price: $30,000
Cap: $9,000

Grand Champion Market Lamb

Exhibited by: Carson Nahrup – Warren County 
Purchased by: The Kroger Company, Faith Driving School, Joe Dirt Company, Rebco Electric and Braman Technologies
Price: $31,000
Cap: $13,000

Reserve Grand Champion Market Lamb

Exhibited by: Peyton Courtright – Fairfield County 
Purchased by: Mark and Megan Kvamme and Family and The O.H.I.O. Fund
Price: $15,000
Cap: $9,000

Grand Champion Market Chickens

Exhibited by: Ali Genter – Fulton County 
Purchased by: The Kroger Company and G&J Pepsi
Price: $21,000
Cap: $7,000

Reserve Grand Champion Market Chickens

Exhibited by: Alec Genter – Fulton County 
Purchased by:Talley Amusements, Event Marketing Strategies and Linde's Livestock Photos
Price: $10,500
Cap: $5,000

Grand Champion Market Goat

Exhibited by: Briley Ashcraft – Athens County 
Purchased by: Expo Services, All-American Quarter Horse Congress, Ohio Quarter Horse Association, OKI, Metropolis, Schmidt's Sausage Haus and Shroyer Sisters: Ava, Jada and Anara Shroyer
Price: $30,000
Cap: $8,000 ■

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