Gast wins Reserve Grand Champion for pen of chickens at state fair

Brayden Gast, right, with his Reserve Grand Champion Pen of Chickens at the Missouri State Fair. Also pictured is the judge for the event. Submitted photo

Nevada Daily Mail

Brayden Gast, a member of the Vernon County Country Clovers 4-H Club, took the Reserve Grand Champion pen of Chickens honor at the Missouri State Fair. Gast is the son of Bryan Gast and Michelle Branham. Brayden's Cornish Cross chickens weighed an average of 6.52 pounds.

Sierra Bruse, daughter of Brad and Pam Bruse is the exhibitor of the 2015 Grand Champion Pen of Chickens at the Missouri State Fair. Sierra is from Princeton, Mo., and a member of the Moss Rangers 4-H Club. Sierra's prize-winning Cornish Cross chickens weighted an average of 6.5 pounds.

On Aug. 22, both Sierra and Brayden will sell their Pen of Chickens 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 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 held at 1:30 p.m., Saturday, Aug. 22, in the Lowell Mohler Assembly Hall. The entire auction will be broadcast live by Live Auctions TV and complete coverage will also be available at kmmo.com.

Through the generous support of YIA sponsors and the Missouri State Fair Foundation, the Missouri State Fair is able to award scholarships each year to Missouri youth pursuing a degree in an agriculture-related field. Last year, 30 $1,500 scholarships, one supreme $2,500 scholarship and one $5,000 platinum scholarship were awarded to youth across Missouri. Since 1992, 506 Missouri youth have received more than $450,000 in scholarships.

"Missouri Youth in Agriculture supporters deserve the credit for the success of the Sale," said Wayne Yokley, Chairman of the YIA Committee, and Superintendent of the Sale of Champions. "Their donations help ensure we are able to continue supporting our young people as they grow in agriculture and pursue higher education."

A complete listing of the 2014 sponsors is available on the Fair's website. A listing of the 2015 sponsors will be posted soon. Anyone interested in becoming a sponsor this year, or receiving more information about sponsorship, can visit www.moyouthinag.org, or contact Yokley at 573-690-8987, Rodney Heimer at 217-257-6182, Sharon Topliff at 573-353-0543, or Mike Williams at 816-797-5450.

The 2015 Missouri State Fair, themed "Show Offs Welcome," is currently underway through Aug. 23 in Sedalia. For more information about competitions and other events, visit www.mostatefair.com, follow the Fair on Facebook and Twitter, or call 1-800-422-FAIR (3247).