Another record year of livestock sales receipts are in the books as the 75th Gasconade County Fair’s signature event recognizing youth exhibitors was conducted Saturday in near perfect weather conditions.

When the three-hour event concluded, receipts totalled $429,181.24 including $14,722 for a new scholarship fund being developed by a group of long-time exhibitors and fair supporters. The group developing the Youth In Ag Scholarship had support from family and friends including Legends Bank, Owensville Premier Logistics, KVK Land & Cattle, Cathlee’s Real Estate, Kevin and Vickie Huebner, and the Maries County Bank.

A statement made on behalf of Chad Raaf, Morgan Huebner and Terrick Ellis thanked the buyers and praised the exhibitors’ presentation of their quality livestock entries.

“We appreciate all buyers and the kids’ hard work they put in, and the effort raising these animals. We couldn’t do it without each and every one of them.”

The statement also thanked members of the fair’s Livestock Committee, reading, “we appreciate all the help.”

The sales table west of the sales barn had the organizers and friends tabulating results including 84 market hogs bringing in $202,095 for the exhibitors to divide based on their bid award per pound.

Exhibitors sold 39 head of market beeffor $192,877.55.  Market goats brought in  $5,205.50 on six animals. Twenty-two market lambs combined to sell for $22,131,50.

And the 13 cured hams brought in $6,871.14. 

This year’s sale surpasses the previous record-setting 2021 sale where receipts closed at $413,805.84.

Future Hermann and Owensville graduates who have exemplified good showmanship, animal care, and looking out for the younger exhibitors can earn a scholarship from the Youth in Ag Scholarship group. They will be the ones, who organizers say, will be doing the extra work in preparation for the fair week. They will help with the set up and take down of fencing and gates for the show ring and animal barns.

The group plans to award the first scholarship in 2023.

Resales of several animals extended the auction until just after 6 p.m. but the ending was worth the wait. There were other resales at the close of the auction which benefited groups like Hermann FFA, Bay 4-H and both the Buschmann and Frey memorial herdsmen funds.

One of the resales, a market hog exhibited by Brett Sassmann, raised just over $11,500 as the Youth In Ag Scholarship committee members combined their bidding power for a group purchase. Buying in on the project were Cathlee’s Real Estate, Maries County Bank, Owensville Premier Logistics, and KVK Land & Cattle.  Their winning bid was $50 a pound.

Among supporters of their scholarship award, Huellinghoff Trucking donated a Kastin Warren goat back for a resell to benefit the scholarship. Raaf, Ellis and Huebner bought it to seed the scholarship with $1,496.

Ausbin Creek Farm/2KW Livestock paid $1,862 and donated it back.  

KVK Land & Livestock paid $1,360 for the goat on its final time in the ring.