Ohio’s top junior livestock exhibitors were celebrated during a high-energy 2026 Ohio State Fair Sale of Champions Livestock Auction, the culmination of the hard work of Ohio’s youth livestock exhibitors. 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% of proceeds going directly back to Ohio youth, the program creates opportunities through scholarships, agricultural education, leadership development and other programs across the state.
More than an auction, the Sale of Champions represents a statewide investment in the future of Ohio youth and agriculture. Each winning bid recognizes the accomplishments of a champion exhibitor while extending its impact through programs that reward and create opportunities for thousands of young Ohioans.
"Today’s 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,” said Governor Mike DeWine.
Participating in the Ohio State Fair Sale of Champions marks the finale of months of dedication and hard work. Earning a grand or reserve champion title is the ultimate goal for junior fair exhibitors.
This year’s sale bill included Grand and Reserve Champion Market Beef, Grand and Reserve Champion Market Barrow, Grand and Reserve Champion Market Lamb, Grand and Reserve Champion Meat Chickens, Grand and Reserve Champion Market Goat, Grand and Reserve Champion Market Turkey, and Grand Champion Swiss Cheese (representing the seven dairy champions and two supreme showmen). The Reserve Grand Champion Market Turkey is a new addition to the Sale of Champions in 2026.
Through the generosity of buyers, dollars received above the caps placed on the amount exhibitors can receive from the Sale of Champions are directed to the Virgil L. Strickler Youth Reserve Program. The 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 today’s sale, the Youth Reserve Program had distributed $5,619,150 to benefit more than 45,000 Ohio youth.
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
Reserve Grand Champion Market Goat
Exhibited by: Jada Shroyer – Logan County
Purchased by:
The Kroger Company
Price: $12,000
Cap: $4,000
Grand Champion Market Turkey
Exhibited by: Alexandra Kinney – Logan County
Purchased by: A.G. Boogher and Sons, Cooper Farms, Mark and Megan Kvamme and Family, The O.H.I.O. Fund and Turn-er Green LLC
Price: $22,000
Cap: $6,000
*NEW RECORD: Reserve Grand Champion Market Turkey
Exhibited by: Alivia Kinney – Logan County
Purchased by: Mark and Megan Kvamme and Family
Price: $15,000
Cap: $3,000
Grand Champion Swiss Cheese
Grand Champion Swiss Cheese: Pearl Valley Cheese, Coshocton County
Grand Champion Ayrshire: Carli Binckley, Columbian County
Grand Champion Brown Swiss: Amelia Baumer, Shelby County
Grand Champion Guernsey: Olivia Dicke, Mercer County
Grand Champion Holstein: Lane Francis, Darke County
Grand Champion Jersey: Lane Francis, Darke County
Grand Champion Milking Shorthorn: Alaina Topp, Shelby County
Grand Champion Red and White: Hannah Froelich, Wayne County
Supreme Showman:
Week 1 – Exhibited by: Carly Binkley, Columbiana County
Week 2 – Exhibited by: Ava Lahmers, Union County
Purchased by: Vivek Ramaswamy and Rob McColley for Ohio and A.G. Boogher and Sons
Price: $50,000
Cap: $9,000
2026 total sale: $396,500
2026 amount earned for the Virgil L. Strickler Youth Reserve Program: $267,500
We look forward to seeing everyone at the 2027 Ohio State Fair, July 28 – Aug. 8 with a spectacular midway, big-name entertainment, hundreds of exhibits, and one of the largest junior fair shows in the nation.