(SEDALIA, Mo.) – Missouri State Fair Director Mark Wolfe announced today that 27 youth, selected from Missouri 4-H and FFA State Fair exhibitors, will be awarded scholarships by the Missouri State Fair Youth in Agriculture (YIA) committee. These students are seeking higher education at a Missouri university/college.
“Supporting higher education for Missouri agriculture youth is a tradition we are proud to uphold year after year,” Wolfe said. “We are thankful for our supporters that come together to make these scholarships possible.”
Scholarship applicants were evaluated in a variety of areas including Missouri State Fair participation, grade point average, community involvement and leadership roles. Since 1992, the YIA committee has awarded 675 scholarships totaling $729,000.
The scholarships are funded through the generosity of Youth in Agriculture sponsors and buyers of the livestock sold during the annual Sale of Champions; the sponsors and buyers list is available online. A portion of each animal’s sale price is allocated to the scholarship program. Support of the scholarship program is also provided by Guesa Grandstand Concessions, Dairy Queen and Steak ‘n Shake of Sedalia; the Governor’s Ham Breakfast; the Missouri State Fair Foundation; Sydenstricker John Deere/Sydenstricker Genetics; Walmart; Missouri Beef Cattleman magazine; and Casey’s General Stores.
Anderson Rogers, of Bethany, has been selected to receive the $5,000 platinum scholarship offered by YIA supporters.
Shelby Stille, of Bellflower, has been selected to receive the $2,500 supreme scholarship, sponsored by Sydenstricker John Deere/Sydenstricker Genetics.
The youth chosen to receive $1,500 scholarships, sponsored by YIA supporters, are:
- Allena Allen, Trenton
- Clint Bailey, Curryville
- Jenna Berendzen, California
- Connor Brown, Lamar
- Sydney Burkemper, Silex
- Rachel Callison, Verona
- Morgan Crutsinger, Whitewater
- Payge Dahmer, Nevada
- Brendon Engeman, Montrose
- Jarret Fuehring, Sweet Springs
- Alexandra Houghton, Hamilton
- Hannah Junkans, Henley
- Alexander Kleinsorge, Middletown
- Courtney Leape, Camden Point
- William Lee, Truxton
- Kaylee Lower, Humansville
- Tate Malter, Marshall
- Montana Plattner, Chillicothe
- Jeffrey Ragsdale, Holliday
- Ciara Raithel, Mexico
- Megan Schneider, Hermann
- Cade Shepherd, Mount Vernon
- Zane Stone, Centralia
- Lauren Wilson, Anabel
- Blake Wright, Verona
The YIA committee is comprised of volunteers from across the state who work throughout the year to raise funds for the annual Sale of Champions auction and scholarships. This year’s auction will be held Saturday, Aug. 22, in the Lowell Mohler Assembly Hall on the fairgrounds. The Missouri Department of Agriculture will broadcast the auction live at Facebook.com/MoAgriculture. Online bidding will also be available during the live auction provided by LiveAuctions.tv.
The 118th annual Missouri State Fair, themed “Home is Here” will be held Aug. 13-23 in Sedalia. For more information about the year’s fair, visit www.mostatefair.com, follow the Missouri State Fair on Facebook and Twitter or call 1-800-422-FAIR (3247).
