Katelyn Gillum, daughter of Brad Gillum and Lori O’Reilly, is the exhibitor of the 2017 Grand Champion Market Steer at the Missouri State Fair. Gillum is from Unionville, and is a member of the Putnam County FFA Chapter. Her prize-winning Market Steer weighed 1,355 pounds.
The Reserve Grand Champion Market Steer honor went to Cole Murphy, of Houstonia. He is the son of Brent and DeEtta Murphy and is member of the Kennedy 4-H Club. His Market Steer weighed 1,315 pounds.
On Aug. 19, both Gillum and Murphy will sell their Market Steers in two of 12 lots offered in the Missouri State Fair Sale of Champions. Proceeds from the annual sale benefit both the winning exhibitors and the Missouri State Fair Foundation Youth in Agriculture (YIA) Scholarship Program.
Many livestock exhibitors will work toward earning a place in the ring at the time-honored Sale of Champions Auction. Grand Champion and Reserve Grand Champion Steers, Barrows, Lambs, Meat Goats, Pens of Chickens and Pens of Rabbits will be featured in the auction, which will be at 1:30 p.m. Saturday in the Lowell Mohler Assembly Hall.
Through the 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, 30 $1,500 scholarships, one supreme $2,500 scholarship, sponsored by Sydenstricker John Deere of Missouri/Sydenstricker Angus Genetics, and one $5,000 platinum scholarship offered by YIA supporters were awarded to youth across Missouri. Since 1992, the YIA committee has awarded 570 scholarships totaling $558,000.
