A Houstonia teen has booked his third consecutive trip to the Missouri State Fair’s Sale of Champions, by way of his goat winning reserve grand champion.

Ty Murphy of the Kennedy 4-H Club led his 77-pound goat to the top of the 4-H Division at Wednesday’s market wether goat show. Murphy credits a regular routine and hard work for another grand champion drive appearance.

Murphy and his older brother Cole are planning to compete in other contests at this year’s fair.

Murphy will be a sophomore this fall at Sweet Springs High School. He exhibited the grand champion goat in 2022 and 2023. Murphy was bested this year by Alexis Koelling of Bowling Green, whose 109-pound goat won the FFA Division.

Koelling said as her goat grew, he showed the signs of becoming a champion, wining several prizes at jackpot shows and regional fairs.

Koelling added goats to her barn five years ago, having spent most of her youth working cattle. She explains the challenges she faced when working with a different species.

Koelling recently completed her associates degree at Black Hawk College in Illinois and will transfer to Oklahoma State University this fall.

Murphy and Koelling are the two latest additions to the Sale of Champions, set for August 19th at 1:30 in the Lowell Mohler Assembly Hall. We’ll carry the sale on our livestream at KMMO.com.

The 122nd Missouri State Fair officially opens Thursday, with the market lamb show beginning at 8 a.m., opening ceremony at 11 a.m., queen pageant at 1 p.m., and parade at 6 p.m.