Barrow From Lexington This Year's Head Hog At State Fair

Wyatt Copenhaver of Lexington, representing the 40-Ville 4-H Club, leads his barrow during the Grand Champion drive at the 120th Missouri State Fair on Friday, Aug. 12th. Copenhaver’s 273-pound dark crossbred won Grand Champion honors. (Photo by Kyle Hill, Alpha Ag Network)

A 4-H member from Lafayette County has this year’s grand champion barrow at the Missouri State Fair. Judges decided Friday to name a 275-pound dark crossbred hog shown by Wyatt Copenhaver the best in the state. The victory surprised Copenhaver, who had previously competed this season at a fair in Braymer.

Central MO Info · 22 0813 Wyatt Copenhaver about his Grand Champion Barrow

Copenhaver will be in eighth grade this fall at Lafayette County. He says competing at a national contest helped him prepare to show at this year’s State Fair.

Central MO Info · 22 0813 Wyatt Copenhaver on competing nationally

Connor Keithley of Chillicothe FFA leads his barrow during the Grand Champion drive. Keithley, who had last year’s Grand Champion barrow, claimed Reserve Grand Champion this year with his 264-pound dark crossbred.

Judges selected Copenhaver’s barrow over another dark crossbred, exhibited by last year’s grand champion, Connor Keithley of Chillicothe. Keithley says he’s blessed that the lone hog he brought this year was able to return him to the Sale of Champions.

Central MO Info · 22 0813 Connor Keithley about his Reserve Grand Champion Barrow

Keithley says he’s leaning toward calling time on his years as an exhibitor at the fair, having achieved top honors the past three.

Central MO Info · 22 0813 Connor Keithley on future competitions

Reserve champion honors in the 4-H division went to Thomas Limbach of Eugene, who exhibited a dark crossbred also weighing 275 pounds. The reserve FFA champion was a dark crossbred weighing 279 pounds, shown by Kaleigh Byram of Sheldon.