SEDALIA - A Fulton boy's prize-winning steer sold for nearly $40,000 at auction Saturday.
12-year-old Gage Baker's 1,325-pound crossbred steer was named the 2019 grand champion market steer last week at the Missouri State Fair. On Saturday, Baker bid farewell to the steer during the Sale of Champions at the State Fair.
The steer sold for a record price of $39,500, and was purchased by CFM Insurance, Inc., Concordia, The Climate Corporation and Bayer. Additional funds for the Grand Champion Steer were also contributed by Youth in Agriculture and hometown supporters. The beef was donated to the Missouri Food Bank Association/Feeding Missouri.
The son of Rhad and Leah Baker, Gage is a seventh-grader at Fulton Middle School and member of the Rising Sun 4-H Club.
Before the sale, Baker said he wouldn't miss the steer too much.
"Some of the ones that aren't so nice are easier to say goodbye to," mother Leah Baker added.
Gage has previously said he'll use his portion of the proceeds to help purchase and raise an even better steer next year. He also wants to set some aside to buy a truck in the future.
By comparison, the reserve champion steer exhibited by Mikaela Rojas, of New Boston, brought in $17,000.
Also on the auction block were lambs, meat rabbits, hogs, goats and chickens. In total, the sale raised $156,300. Meat from several lots was donated to food pantries and the University of Missouri's livestock judging team.
Wayne Yokley, chairman of the Missouri State Fair Youth in Agriculture Committee and superintendent of the Sale of Champions, said the huge success of this sale is attributed to the tremendous support received from all of the Youth in Agriculture sponsors.
Proceeds from the sale go to the exhibitors and to Missouri State Fair Youth in Agriculture scholarships