Ty Murphy of Houstonia will make a fourth consecutive trip to the Sale of Champions, this time with the Grand Champion Barrow.

Murphy’s dark crossbred hog weighing 279 pounds won top honors Friday, Aug. 8 at the Missouri State Fair, one year after his older brother Cole won the coveted purple ribbon. Ty Murphy credits the support of his family and community for allowing him to excel in the showring another year.

Murphy’s previous three trips to the Sale of Champions have involved his goats. He says this year he opted to focus primarily on barrows.

However, Murphy did provide a key supporting role in Wednesday’s grand champion goat drive, guiding Thomas Limbach of Miller County through the showring as the Eldon FFA member won grand champion with his goat. The two of them will join a second Sweet Springs FFA member, Jillian Vogelsmeier, in the Sale of Champions on Aug. 16, after Vogelsmeier booked her second straight appearance with the Grand Champion Market Lamb.

The Reserve Grand Champion Barrow was exhibited by Kade Jackson of the Liberty 4-H Club of Lathrop for a second consecutive year. Jackson also showed a dark crossbred barrow.