DOSWELL––The Oct. 4, 2025, State Fair of Virginia Youth Livestock Sale of Champions raised $106,125 in support of the fair’s long-standing commitment to youth.
The 2025 State Fair welcomed 322 youth exhibiting market cattle, swine, goats and sheep for the opportunity to compete for scholarships and premiums at the annual event.
The sale celebrates the hard work of Virginia 4-H and FFA participants, and auction proceeds benefit the State Fair Youth Scholarship Fund, which supports youth across the commonwealth.
“Our community continues to show up and support our annual Youth Livestock Show and Sale of Champions, helping us realize the State Fair Youth Development Board’s mission to recognize Virginia youth,” noted Marlene Jolliffe, the fair’s executive director. “We are grateful to the youth who participate in the show and sale, and the committees, volunteers, staff and Virginia Cooperative Extension that contribute to this worthwhile fundraiser. The Sale of Champions is only possible through the generous donations made by companies, organizations and individuals.”
The fair offers youth more than $100,000 each year in scholarship funds through 4-H, FFA and vocational competitions and specific equine, fine arts and horticulture competitions. Sale of Champions proceeds support competition premiums and scholarships.
The sale featured the auction of grand champion and reserve champion market animals from this year’s 4-H and FFA youth livestock shows. Exhibitors received 55% of their respective animals’ purchase prices—50% as a cash premium and 50% in scholarship funds. The following are this year’s winners:
- Grand Champion Market Beef, exhibited by Landon Marshall of Augusta County and purchased for $24,250 by Augusta Cooperative Farm Bureau, Blair Construction, Brandt, Deggler Attractions, Dick & Julia Rose, Dwight Houff, Glenmary Farms LLC, Houff Corporation, Ironsides Animal Health, Lincoln Ridge, Land of Promise Farm, Marshall Farms, McGuire Woods, Mount View Farm Inc., Performance Food Group, VA Club Calf Producers, Virginia Grain Producers Association, Wightman Crop Insurance and Wilson Farm LLC.
- Reserve Champion Market Beef, exhibited by Rylee Stratton of Appomattox County and purchased for $17,000 by All About Alpacas, BMB Steel, CFC Farm and Home Center, Commonwealth Gin, ETS, First Bank & Trust Co., Frank Graves, Glenmary Farm LLC, Hethwood Market, James River Equipment, John Ranero, K&R Concessions, Knight Cattle, Lincoln Ridge, Lynwood Broaddus, Phat Boyz Catering, Pinson Novelties, Pryoville Farm, Virginia Beach Farm Bureau, Virginia Cattleman’s Association, Virgina Soybean Association, Wilmer and Peggy Stoneman and Wilson Farm LLC.
- Grand Champion Market Hog, exhibited by Bradley Craun of Augusta County and purchased for $16,000 by CFC Farm and Home Center, D. Thomas, McGuire Woods LLP and Smithfield Foods.
- Reserve Champion Market Hog, exhibited by Jackson Kelly of Clarke County and purchased for $14,000 by D. Thomas, Hog Slat Inc., Hog Wild Bar-B-Que, Smithfield Foods and Virginia Pork Council.
- Grand Champion Market Lamb, exhibited by Emma Jo Donnelly of Clarke County and purchased for $10,000 by Blair Construction, Custom Construction Management, Madison Builders and Woodstock Equipment.
- Reserve Champion Market Lamb, exhibited by Kyle Blevins of Washington County and purchased for $7,500 by CFC Farm & Home Center, Deggler Attractions, Farm Credit, Griffs Catering, Harris Electric, John Soderberg, Mountain Top Cattle Co. LLC, Nutrien Ag Solutions, Pelican Joe’s Donuts, Southern States Cooperative, Virginia Farm Bureau and Weller & Associates.
- Grand Champion Market Goat, exhibited by Henrich Wells of Augusta County and purchased for $7,750 by CFC Farm & Home Center, Creative Virtue Customs, Deggler Attractions, Fords Foods, Lakeview Tack Shop, Nutrien, Robert Mills, Triple T Concessions, Two Kings Concessions, Virginia Beach 4-H Livestock Club and Virginia Soybean Association.
- Reserve Champion Market Goat, exhibited by Paislee Hilliard of Page County and purchased for $7,250 by Cinn-Sane Cinnamon Rolls, Deggler Attractions, Everett Farms Inc., Fun Time Foods, Gore Trailer Sales, Hanover County Farm Bureau, John Broaddus, John Rainaro, Laze Hill Equipment, Nutrien, Performance Food Group, RMC and Virginia Soybean Association.
- Additional donations totaling $2,375 were made by Bill Osl, Glenmary Farms LLC, Polar Bear Ice Cream, Sarah Jane Thomsen and Two Kings Concessions.
The 2026 State Fair of Virginia will run from Sept. 25 through Oct. 4. Information is available at StateFairVa.org.
The State Fair is held each fall at its permanent home at The Meadow Event Park in Caroline County and attracts over 210,000 fairgoers. The event celebrates the best of Virginia’s past, present and future through scholarship initiatives, creative programming and a focus on the commonwealth’s agriculture and natural resources industries.
Media: Contact Kathy Dixon, assistant director of communications, at 804-370-3055.