Monroe County Bacons Contribute To Record Sale Of Champions

The Grand Champion and Reserve Grand Champion Bacon at the 2023 Missouri State Fair were both cured in Monroe County. (Photo by Kyle Hill, Alpha Ag Network)

Two exhibitors from Monroe County brought in over $17,000 for their champion slabs of bacon at Saturday afternoon’s Missouri State Fair Sale of Champions, benefiting Youth in Agriculture scholarships. The Grand Champion Bacon, cured by Jackie Clay of Moberly, brought in $7400. The Paris Patriots 4-H President says she was surprised to make it to the sale, having entered bacon for the past eight years.

Central MO Info · 23 0820 Jackie Clay on her experiences curing bacon

Clay explains the process for her project.

Central MO Info · 23 0820 Jackie Clay on curing her Grand Champion Bacon

Regional Missouri Bank purchased Clay’s Grand Champion Slab of Bacon. The bank also set a record when they purchased the Reserve Grand Champion Slab of Bacon for $9700, exhibited by Chase Kendrick of Paris FFA. Kendrick’s bacon was one of four new records set Saturday. The Grand Champion Barrow exhibited by Hallsville’s Renee Conklin went for an all-time high of $50,000, while Ryleigh Witt’s Grand Champion Steer went for $46,000. Missouri Soybeans bid a record $6550 for the Grand Champion Ham, exhibited by Timothy Holtsclaw of California.