2024 Ohio grand champion market beef

The 2024 Sale of Champions livestock auction once again wrapped up the Ohio State Fair. The event, held Sunday afternoon Aug. 4 in the WCOL Celeste Center, showcased Ohio’s premium livestock, premier junior fair exhibitors and generous supporters. On the sale bill were the grand champion and reserve champion of many species, including market beef, market barrows, market lambs, market chickens and boer goats, as well as the grand champion market turkey and a block of Swiss cheese to represent the seven dairy champions. In full, the 2024 auction raised a total of $260,500.

Ohio Farm Bureau, along with partners Bob Evans, Kroger and Ohio Harness Horsemen’s Association, purchased the Grand Champion Market Steer exhibited by Annistyn Oszust of Tuscarawas County, which sold for $40,000. Oszust received $25,000 from the sale, with the remaining $15,000 going to the Virgil L. Strickler Youth Reserve Program.

Ohio Farm Bureau, along with partners Bob Evans and Kroger, purchased the Reserve Grand Champion Market Barrow exhibited by Kole Bishop of Champaign County, which sold for $35,000. Bishop received $9,000 from the sale, with the remaining $26,000 going to the Virgil L. Strickler Youth Reserve Program.

Ohio Farm Bureau, along with partners Kroger and the Ohio Harness Horsemen’s Association, also purchased the Grand Champion Market Lamb exhibited by Ava Shroyer from Logan County for $13,000, equaling the cap amount allotted to the exhibitor. 

Established in 1995, the Virgil L. Strickler Youth Reserve Program was developed to reward junior exhibitors who participate in the Ohio State Fair. This year’s Sale of Champions raised $134,500 for the Youth Reserve Program; since its inception the program has awarded nearly $5 million to more than 44,500 youth exhibitors.

Ohio Farm Bureau’s mission is working together for Ohio farmers to advance agriculture and strengthen our communities. Learn more at ohiofarmbureau.org.

This is a news release for use by journalists. Questions should be directed to Ty Higgins, 614-246-8231 or [email protected].

Editors: High-resolution photos for the Grand Champion Market Steer, Reserve Grand Champion Market Barrow and Grand Champion Market Lamb are available for download.

The issue of property taxation remains as one of the biggest challenges our members face today. Ensuring agricultural property is valued for its agricultural potential and not development is critical to the continued success of Ohio agriculture.
Matt Aultman's avatar
Matt Aultman

Darke County Farm Bureau

Giving farmers a voice
The plan we are on is great. It’s comparable to my previous job's plan, and we are a sole proprietor.
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Kevin Holy

Geauga County Farm Bureau

Ohio Farm Bureau Health Benefits Plan
We really appreciate what Farm Bureau has done to get people interested in this line of work and workforce development and getting people interested in this industry.
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Jody Brown Boyd

Brown's Family Farm Market

Finding farm labor
I appreciate the benefit of having a strong voice in my corner. The extras that are included in membership are wonderful, but I'm a member because of the positive impact to my local and state agricultural communities.
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Ernie Welch

Van Wert County Farm Bureau

Strong communities
We work terrifically with the Ashtabula County Farm Bureau, hosting at least one to two outreach town hall events every year to educate new farmers and existing farmers on traditional CAUV and woodlands.
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David Thomas

Ashtabula County Auditor

CAUV: Past, present and future
Because we are younger farmers just starting out, Farm Bureau has a lot of good opportunities and resources to help us grow in the future.
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Hannah Kiser

Sandusky County Farm Bureau

Farm Bureau involvement
Through the Select Partner program, we became educated in farm insurance and weren't just selling policies. It became more and more clear why farmers need an advocate like Ohio Farm Bureau.
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Chad Ruhl

Farm manager, CSI Insurance

Select Partner Program
So many of the issues that OFBF and its members are advocating for are important to all Ohioans. I look at OFBF as an agricultural watchdog advocating for farmers and rural communities across Ohio.
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Mary Smallsreed

Trumbull County Farm Bureau

Advocacy
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