The Grand Champion and Reserve Grand Champion Market Pen of Rabbits have been announced at the Missouri State Fair.

Molly Strozewski is the exhibitor of the 2023 Grand Champion Pen of Rabbits at the Missouri State Fair. Strozewski is from Lincoln, and is a member of the Independent Benton County 4-H Club. Strozewski’s prize-winning pen had an average weight of 4.6 pounds.

The Reserve Grand Champion Pen of Rabbits honor went to Wren Coats of Braymer. She is a member of the Braymer FFA. Coats’s pen had an average weight of 4.5 pounds.

Both Strozewski and Coats will sell their pens in two of 16 lots offered in the Missouri State Fair Sale of Champions on Saturday August 19. 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 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 19, in the Lowell Mohler Assembly Hall. The entire auction will be broadcast live by KMMO radio online.