Et cetera : Seven Records Set at 2012 Iowa State Fair Sale of Champions

With a final swing of the gavel, the Iowa Foundation for Agricultural Advancement (IFAA) raised $300,000 for the 16 exhibitors of 4-H and FFA Grand Champions in the Sale of Champions Saturday, August 18, at the 2012 Iowa State Fair.

Five champion records were broken during the Sale. The Reserve Champion 4-H Market Heifer sold for a record $35,000, besting the previous mark of $28,000 set in 2011. The Grand Champion 4-H Market Hog sold for $31,000, breaking the previous record of $25,000 set in 2010. The Grand Champion FFA Market Lamb set a new record of $14,600, beating the previous record of $14,500 set in 2004. The Grand Champion and Reserve Champion 4-H Broiler Pens set two new records of $7,000 and $12,200, respectively. The previous records were $5,800 set in 2011 and $6,200 set in 2008, respectively.

This year IFAA introduced meat goats to the sale. The Grand Champion FFA Meat Goat sold for $7,500 and the Grand Champion 4-H Meat Goat sold for $9,200, both establishing new records.

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.

When added with the $165,150 of scholarships and performance and carcass awards presented prior to the Sale, the IFAA bestowed $465,150 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 $5.2 million through Sale proceeds and scholarships to deserving youth participating in agricultural-related projects and interested in agricultural-related careers.

"Nothing Compares" to the 2012 Iowa State Fair, August 9-19. The Fairgrounds are located at East 30th 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.