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Northwest Missouri youth exhibit champion steers at Missouri State Fair

Two northwest Missouri youth exhibitors have the Grand Champion and Reserve Grand Champion Steers at the Missouri State Fair.

“It’s really a dream come true,” says Reagan Rodgers, a member of the Savannah FFA Chapter.

Rodger’s steer was Grand Champion and will be in the Sale of Champions on Saturday. She says it’s not her first sale, having sold other species at the event.

“I’ve been in the sale with sheep, and my sister has also been in the sale,” she says. “To come back to what we raise at home is a unique experience. Cattle is definitely my passion, raising them at home from when they’re little, buying them in the fall. We trade a lot of cattle through our house, so just the passion is really what drives me. Then, the goals of becoming a champion or doing well at the state fair was always a goal for sure.”

It will be the first Sale of Champions for Ryker Blackford from the North Nodaway 4-H Club, who showed the Reserve Grand Champion Steer. He tells Brownfield…

“Showing cows takes a lot of time and hard work, and it’s a family project.”

These are some of the final participants for the Sale of Champions, scheduled for Saturday, August 22. It will be held at 1:30 p.m. in the Lowell Mohler Assembly Hall, following the Best of Missouri Awards and Sale.

Grand Champion and Reserve Grand Champion steers, barrows, lambs, meat goats, pens of chickens and pens of rabbits will be featured in the auction. The Missouri State Fair continues through Sunday in mid-Missouri.

Hear Brownfield’s interview with Reagan Rodgers.

Hear Brownfield’s interveiw with Ryker Blackford.