This year, 1,257 4-H and FFA members across Mississippi participated in the Dixie National Junior Round-Up Livestock Shows, showing 2,153 head of livestock. These students competed for the opportunity to participate in the 54th annual Sale of Junior Champions. The Sale of Junior Champions, one of the highlight events of the Dixie National Livestock Show and Rodeo, is a livestock auction where livestock exhibitors winning Champion and Reserve Champion in the Junior Round-Up Market Divisions sell their animals and scholarships are awarded.
“One of the most coveted honors for Mississippi’s youth livestock exhibitors is participating in the Sale of Junior Champions. The hard work and dedication that it takes to compete surpasses that required for
a number of other youth activities. These youth are our future leaders. The skills and lessons learned will not just impact their generation; it will impact future generations to come,” said Mississippi Commissioner of Agriculture and Commerce Andy Gipson. “I am so proud of all the students from across our great state who worked hard all year to raise these animals and participate in the 2023 Dixie National livestock shows. Congratulations to all of our winners and scholarship recipients.”
During the Sale of Junior Champions, several student members of the Hinds County 4-H organization were recognized for their achievements. Jimmy Washburn, Reserve Champion of the Mississippi Bred American Steer Show, and Mason Williams, Reserve Grand Champion of the Mississippi Bred Light Mediumweight Goat Show, participated in the sale. In addition, Cloe Caroline Strohm was recognized as a supreme exhibitor and Madelyn Lewis was awarded a scholarship.
The final Sale of Champions featured a record 48 champion market animals, including eight steers, 16 hogs, 12 goats, 10 lambs and for the first time, two hair sheep. The preliminary total sale was $456,285. The Sale of Champions Promotion Committee raised $61,500 in scholarships, including numerous $1,500 scholarships for high school senior exhibitors. This year, scholarships were awarded to 39 student participants of the Dixie National Junior Round-Up Livestock Shows.
2023 Supreme Exhibitors L-R: Katy Kendall and Hannah Hayes Ware, Montgomery 4-H; Paxton and Mallary Lemoine, Rankin 4-H/Puckett FFA; Chase Boone, Smith 4-H/Raleigh FFA; Delayne Hughes, Forrest 4-H; Carl Taylor, Prentiss 4-H; Not Pictured: Cloe Caroline Strohm, Hinds 4-H; Jadyn Sanford, Covington 4-H.
2023 Scholarship Recipients L-R: Front row, Layla Bramlitt, Calhoun 4-H; Addison Lindsey, Scott 4-H/Pelahatchie FFA; Ann Cole Hammons, Rankin 4-H; Sadie Morris, South Panola FFA/Panola 4-H; Caroline Chapman, Tippah 4-H/Pine Grove FFA; Maddie Grace Walters, Rankin 4-H/Pelahatchie FFA; Ann Rileigh Holder, Jones 4-H; Emma Grace Koger, Humphreys 4-H; Ferrell-Alleyn Stonecypher, Humphreys 4-H; Kylie Graves, Lincoln 4-H; Jaylynn Cloy, Lincoln 4-H; Madelyn Lewis, Hinds 4-H. Back row, Aiden Harper, Jasper 4-H; Preston Aust, Humphreys 4-H; Colton Howell, Holmes 4-H; Joseph Nelson, Walthall 4-H; Collin Culpepper, Jones 4-H/S. Jones FFA; J.J. Hill, Stringer FFA/Jasper 4-H; Grant Goree, Lincoln 4-H; Jon Tyler Wells, Scott 4-H/Pisgah FFA; Will Manning, Union 4-H; Calden Ratliff, Stone 4-H/Stone Co. FFA; Conner Shelton, Calhoun 4-H/Bruce FFA; Jensyn Cain, Calhoun 4-H; Dru Prisock, Oktibbeha 4-H.
LOT 18: MS Bred Res Grand Champion/MS Bred Champ Light Mediumweight Goat Exhibited by Mason Williams, Hinds 4-H. Buyers: Signs First; AdCamp; Helena Agri-Enterprises; Hancock Whitney Bank; Nutrien Ag Solutions; Merchants & Planters Bank; Gaddis & McLaurin Store; The Erickson Agency; Bozeman Farms; BankFirst Financial Services; Calvin & Mary Lou McCoy; MS Cattlemen’s Assoc.; Town Creek Farm.
LOT 24: Res Champion American/MS Bred Res Champ American Steer Exhibited by Jimmy Washburn, Hinds 4-H. Buyers: Signs First, Adcamp; Helena Agri-Enterprises; Hancock Whitney Bank; Nutrien Ag Solutions; Merchants & Planters Bank; Gaddis & McLaurin Store; The Erickson Agency; Bozeman Farms; BankFirst Financial Services; Calvin & Mary Lou McCoy; MS Cattleman’s Assoc.; Town Creek Farm.