News from Iowa State Fair

For more information contact: Lori Chappell, 515-262-3111 x204

Four Records Fall at 2008 Iowa State Fair Sale of Champions

DES MOINES, IA (08/16/2008; 1914)(readMedia)-- With a final swing of the gavel, the Iowa Foundation for Agricultural Advancement (IFAA) raised $222,200 for the 14 exhibitors of 4-H and FFA Grand Champions in the Sale of Champions Saturday, August 16, at the 2008 Iowa State Fair.

Four champion records were broken during the Sale. The Reserve Champion FFA Market Hog sold for a record $26,000, besting the previous mark of $15,000. Other new price records included: the Grand Champion 4-H Market Hog, $21,000; the Reserve Champion 4-H Market Heifer, $20,000; and the Reserve Champion 4-H Broiler Pen, $6,200.

Participants in the Sale of Champions were asked to find hometown supporters to set a floor price for bidding. The purchaser in the auction paid the difference between the floor price and the final sale price. Each participant in the Sale takes home a check for 80 percent of the animal's sale price. The IFAA keeps 20 percent to fund the scholarship program and cover Sale expenses. In addition to their sale earnings, the exhibitors of the Grand Champion 4-H Market Steer, Grand Champion 4-H Market Hog and Grand Champion FFA Market Lamb earn the use of a new aluminum livestock trailer for one year courtesy of Featherlite, Inc., of Cresco.

A complete list of champion animals, prices, buyers and local support follows.

When added with the $142,550 of scholarships and performance and carcass awards presented prior to the Sale, the IFAA bestowed $364,750 on young livestock and poultry exhibitors during the day's event. Since the inception of the Sale of Champions in 1988, the IFAA has given out more than $3.4 million through Sale proceeds and scholarships to deserving youth participating in agricultural-related projects and interested in agricultural-related careers.

The Iowa State Fair runs through August 17 - "U Gotta Love It!" The Fairgrounds are located at East 30^th and East University Avenue, just 10 minutes east of downtown Des Moines, and are open 7 a.m. to 1 a.m. each day of the Fair. Exhibit hours may vary. For more information, call 800/545-FAIR or visit iowastatefair.org.

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Note to Editor: A table of the exhibitors, prices and buyers is available on the Sale of Champions page of the Iowa State Fair website (http://www.iowastatefair.org/saleofchamps/saleofchamps.php). Additional biographical information on the 2008 Iowa State Fair Sale of Champions winners is also available through the Iowa State Fair website. Please contact your hometown winners for names of local supporters. If you would like a photo of your local champion, please contact the Iowa State Fair Marketing Department by email at steve@stevepope.com or by telephone at 515/262-3111, ext. 204.

Attachments

2008 Sale of Champions Biographies
08winners.bios.pdf

2008 Sale of Champions Winners
2008_Sale_Grid.pdf