The Missouri State Fair Market Pen of Chickens Grand Champion and Reserve Grand Champion exhibitors have been announced.

Blake Gates, of Cairo is the exhibitor of the 2022 Grand Champion Market Pen of Chickens at the Missouri State Fair. Gates is a member of the Neighborly Community 4-H club. His prize-winning pen of chickens weighed an average of 6.1 pounds.

The Reserve Grand Champion Market Pen of Chickens honor went to Porter Kruse of Fairview. He is a member of the County Line 4-H club. Kruse’s pen of chickens weighed an average of 6.4 pounds.

Gates and Kruse are scheduled to sell their pen of chickens in two of 16 lots offered in the Missouri State Fair Sale of Champions on Saturday, August 20. Proceeds from the annual sale benefit both the winning exhibitors and the Missouri State Fair Youth in Agriculture (YIA) Scholarship Program, administered by the Missouri State Fair Foundation.

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, along with the Grand and Reserve Grand Champion Hams and Bacons. The Sale will be held at 1:30 p.m., Saturday, August 20, in the Lowell Mohler Assembly Hall. The entire auction will be broadcast live on kmmo.com.