2023 Dixie National Sale of Junior Champions MS Bred Grand Champion/MS Bred Champ Mediumweight Goat. Exhibited by Jack & Samuel Sturdivant, Madison 4-H.
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.”
2023 Dixie National Sale of Junior Champions Res Champion Mediumweight Goat. Exhibited by Hannah Katherine Jones, Madison 4-H.
During the Sale of Junior Champions, several student members of the Madison County 4-H organization were recognized for their achievements. Hannah Katherine Jones, Reserve Champion of the Mediumweight Goat Show, as well as Jack and Samuel Sturdivant, Grand Champions of the Mississippi Bred Mediumweight Goat Show, all participated in the sale.
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.