It was a record-setting Missouri State Fair Sale of Champions, raising nearly $186,000 for Youth in Agriculture, and Connor Keithley was on much of the receiving end as his hog made sale history.

After a year off because of COVID-19, the Missouri State Fair wrapped up its 2021 livestock competitions with a sale Aug. 21. Proceeds go to the sale exhibitors and are also used to award Missouri State Fair Youth in Agriculture scholarships.

It was the sale of the Grand Champion barrow, exhibited by Keithley, that nearly brought down the house. The Chillicothe FFA member sold his 225-pound crossbred hog for a $44,573, the largest amount an exhibitor has ever received for their animal in the history of the Sale of Champions.

The Missouri State Fair Concessionaires and Commercial Exhibitors, along with Youth in Agriculture and hometown supporters, combined for the record-setting sales price. The pork was donated to Feeding Missouri.

Here is a list of the other exhibitors of champions and reserve champions in each species, along with the sale price:

Grand Champion steer. Payton Rodgers of Savannah sold her 1,305-pound crossbred steer for $22,373. She is a member of the Kodiak Kadettes 4-H Club. The beef was donated to the University of Missouri’s Livestock Judging Team.

Grand Champion market lamb. Payge Dahmer of Nevada sold her Hampshire lamb for $12,621. She is a member of the Nevada FFA chapter. The lamb was donated to Feeding Missouri.

Grand Champion meat goat. Rylee Anderson of Chillicothe sold her 79-pound Boer goat for $17,369 — a record for goat sales. The goat was donated to the University of Missouri Livestock Judging Team. Anderson is a member of the Liberty 4-H Club.

Grand Champion pen of rabbits. Carissa Stong of Sheldon sold her rabbits for $2,752. She is a member of the Lone Star 4-H Club.

Grand Champion pen of chickens. Hayden Duncan of Centertown sold his Cornish Cross broilers for $2,615. He is a member of the Columbia FFA chapter.

Reserve Grand Champion steer. Lucas Leefers of Edgerton sold his 1,330-pound crossbred steer for $17,419. He is a member of the Hoover Heroes 4-H Club. The beef was donated to the Missouri 4-H Foundation.

Reserve Grand Champion barrow. Wyatt Collard’s 290-pound crossbred barrow sold for $17,879. He is from Oronogo and a member of the Carthage FFA chapter. The pork was donated to the Missouri State Fair Foundation.

Reserve Grand Champion market lamb. Reagan Rodgers of Savannah sold her lamb for $11,686. It was donated to the University of Missouri Livestock Judging Team. She is a member of the Kodiak Kadettes 4-H Club.

Reserve Grand Champion meat goat. Thomas Limbach of Eugene sold his 90-pound Boer goat for $8,137. He is a member of the Spring Garden 4-H Club.

Reserve Grand Champion pen of rabbits. Kaela Sadler of Atlanta sold her Californian rabbits for $4,123. She is a member of the Atlanta Home Pioneer 4-H Club.

Reserve Grand Champion pen of chickens. Hayden Duncan, a member of the Columbia FFA chapter, sold his pen of Cornish Cross chickens for $2,026. The chicken was donated to the University of Missouri Livestock Judging Team.

But it wasn’t just livestock projects up for sale.

Add some ham and bacon

New to the Sale of Champions this year was the Junior Show Grand and Reserve Champion hams and bacons.

Josie Stewart of Russellville cured the Grand Champion ham. It was purchased for $5,520. She is a member of the Russellville FFA chapter.

Trent Haas of Curryville exhibited the Grand Champion bacon. He is a member of the Bowling Green FFA chapter. His bacon sold for $4,500 and was donated to the Missouri State Fair Foundation.

Quynten Cary of California cured the Reserve Grand Champion ham. He is a member of the California FFA chapter. His ham brought $7,180.

Kash Hentges of Clarksburg exhibited the Reserve Grand Champion bacon. He is a member of the Tipton 4-H Club. His more than 9 pounds of bacon sold for $3,575.

The final lot of the day was the Limited Edition Sale of Champions Commemorative Belt Buckle, bought by Chad and Betsy Keithley of Keithley Farms in Chillicothe for $1,600.