Mississippi Farm Bureau Federation once again supported Mississippi youth by participating in the Dixie National Livestock Show Sale of Junior Champions today.

MFBF, along with the Mississippi Farm Bureau Casualty Insurance Company and Southern Farm Bureau Life Insurance Company, purchased five animals from the sale. By doing so, Farm Bureau helped support the next generation of agriculture industry leaders who will help sustain food, fiber and shelter in Mississippi for years to come.

“Our members understand that this is the best way you can teach a kid responsibilities early in life,” MFBF President Mike McCormick said. “They’re out working with their show animals before they go to school, after they come home from school, and just learning how to take care of animals and be good stewards of our land.”

This year 1,257 4-H and FFA members from across Mississippi participated in the Dixie National Junior Round-Up Livestock Show, showing 2,153 head of various livestock including pigs, sheep, cattle and goats. The animals sold for top dollar in the Sale of Champions. In addition, scholarships totaling $61,500 were awarded to 39 students.

“The Dixie National Junior Livestock Show and the Sale of Champions is one of the biggest highlights of our 4-H program throughout the year. Over 1,200 youth participated this year in this event,” said Mississippi State University Extension Service Interim Director Dr. Steve Martin. “At the heart of this is leadership, and what we are teaching through our program develops young leaders for the state of Mississippi.

The work of the Sale of Champions Promotion Committee has been the key to the success of the Sale for over 50 years. Since the Sale of Champions began in 1970, the event has continued to grow due to the generosity and dedication of the Sale of Champions Committee members.

“Mississippi is very fortunate to have very strong 4-H and FFA chapters across our state as well as great Extension and Agricultural Teachers, who lead and sponsor our Mississippi youth involved in 4-H and FFA. The Dixie National Sale of Junior Champions board members, buyers, sponsors and donors will provide monetary support and scholarships totaling over $500,000 today at the Sale of Champions to these Mississippi young people who have spent countless hours of preparation and showing of their animals at county and district shows that culminates here this week in Jackson at the Mississippi Fairgrounds and Coliseum leading up to the largest rodeo east of the Mississippi, The Dixie National Rodeo!” said Gary Blair, Chairman of the Dixie National Sale of Champions Promotion Committee. Over the past 53 years, the sale has grossed over $8.5 million. Last year, the sale of 46 animals grossed $448,500, and 39 scholarships totaling $61,500 were awarded.

Over the past 53 years, the sale has grossed $8,524,244.40. Since the first scholarships were granted in 1993, over 797 scholarships have been awarded to various 4-H and FFA members totaling $1,071,200.