Jada Shroyer of DeGraff participates in the Ohio State Fair Sale of Champions with her Grand Champion Market Goat. (OHIO STATE FAIR PHOTO)
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.
Sisters Alexandra, left, and Alivia Kinney of Lewistown exhibited the Grand Champion Market Turkey and the Reserve Grand Champion Market Turkey, respectively, at the state fair. (OHIO AG NET PHOTO)
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 accomplisheand 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
