(SEDALIA, Mo.) – Myra Silvey, daughter of Dale and Kim Silvey, is the exhibitor of the 2024 Grand Overall Champion Ham at the Missouri State Fair. Myra is from California, and is a member of the California FFA Chapter.
The Reserve Overall Grand Champion Ham honor went to Carsyn Petree of Tipton. She is the daughter of Garret Petree and Shonda Koechner and is a member of the Tipton 4-H Club.
The Reserve FFA Champion Ham honor went to Kierstyn Lawson of California. She is the daughter of Jason and Stephanie Lawson and is a member of the California FFA Chapter.
Addison Bradley, daughter of Tony and Jennifer Bradley, is the exhibitor of the Reserve 4-H Champion Ham at the Missouri State Fair. Addison is from Eldon, and is a member of the Eldon Nobles 4-H Club.
On Saturday Aug. 17, Myra, Carsyn, Kierstyn, and Addison will sell their hams in four of 19 lots offered in the Missouri State Fair Inaugural Best of Missouri Sale, sponsored by America’s Heartland Packing. Proceeds from the sale benefit the Missouri State Fair Youth in Agriculture Scholarship program and highlights divisional champion products.
Many exhibitors will work toward earning a place in the Inaugural Best of Missouri Sale. Top four junior exhibitor bacons and hams, champion carcass steer, barrow, lamb and meat goat, open champion ham and bacon, award-winning Missouri Grown products, best of class Missouri Wine collection, Governor’s Cup wine honoree and best of class cheese will be featured in the auction. The Sale will be held at 11:15 a.m., Saturday, Aug. 17, in the Lowell Mohler Assembly Hall.
Through the generous support of YIA sponsors and the Missouri State Fair Foundation, the Missouri State Fair is able to award scholarships each year to Missouri youth. Last year, forty-nine $1,500 scholarships, four $1,500 scholarships, sponsored by Betty Jane Bell Trust, one supreme $2,500 scholarship, sponsored by Sydenstricker Nobbe Partners/Sydenstricker Genetics, four supreme $2,500 scholarships, sponsored by the Missouri State Fair Foundation, one $3,500 Sharon Topliff scholarship and one $5,000 S. Wayne Yokley platinum scholarship offered by YIA supporters were awarded to youth across Missouri. Since 1992, the YIA committee has awarded 878 scholarships totaling $1,069,000.
A complete listing of the 2023 YIA sponsors is available on the Fair’s website. A listing of the 2024 sponsors will be posted soon. Anyone interested in becoming a sponsor this year, or receiving more information about sponsorship, can visit the Fair’s website, or contact Chuck Miller at 573-881-3589, Rodney Heimer at 217-257-6182, or Chip Kemp at 573-239-0524.