The Grand Champion Market Beef, exhibited by Ryleigh Egbert from Auglaize County, sold for $225,000. The Reserve Grand Champion Market Beef, exhibited by Delaney Jones from Allen County, sold for $100,000. Both bids set records as the highest selling market beef animals in the fair’s history.
Auctioneer, Johnny Regula, sold the Grand Champion Market Beef to S&S Volvo and the Reserve Grand Champion Market Beef sold to Mark and Megan Kvamme and family and Steve R. Rauch, Inc.
Upon Egbert entering the ring with her steer, Regula said, “He has won more times than he has been beaten. This is a very unique, very special calf. This young girl lost her grandpa this year. She told grandpa, ‘This one is for you.’ And by gosh she did it.”
After the steer sold for a record-breaking number, Regula said, “This blows my mind. This blows everybody’s mind. Congratulations Ryleigh, you hold the record, and I’m sure you will for a while — $225,000, the Grand Champion Steer! I sold him!”
The previous record for the Grand Champion Market Beef was set at $85,000 in 2011.
Every other project in the sale also set a record this year with the sale totaling $676,500 and raising over a half a million for the Youth Reserve Program (YRP) to benefit Ohio State Fair 4-H and FFA exhibitors.