After an hour-long rain delay Saturday afternoon before the start of the Gasconade County Fair’s Youth Livestock & Ham Auction auction, buyers showed their support for exhibitors, a scholarship fund for graduating seniors, memorial awards, and building projects to support the annual event which marked its 76th year.

Thirty-one buyers supporting youth in agriculture raised $14,445.50 during the sale that afternoon for the Youth in Ag Scholarship program which began in 2022 with 19 original members. Three recipients of $2,500 scholarships with proceeds from last year’s sale were presented plaques at the conclusion of the awards ceremony which was interrupted 10 minutes before the scheduled 3 p.m. start of the sale.

The awards ceremony and sale were delayed as a thunderstorm front rolled through Memorial Park about 2:50 p.m., dropping the temperature about 10 degrees and causing some minor damage to vendor tents and knocking over a video screen on the main stage on Memorial Field. Fairgoers took shelter in vehicles and the Exhibition Hall. The sale arena was cleared as wind and heavy rainfall was observed for about 20 minutes from 3:10 to 3:30 p.m. when the front passed over the park.

Wyatt Bridgeman, a 2023 graduate of Owensville High School, and Hermann High School graduates Reese Groner and Addison Noelke were the first recipients of the scholarship developed by the Supporting Youth in Ag buyer’s group through the reselling of animals purchased during the fair’s auction.

Members of the buyer’s group include Ausbin Creek Farm/2KW Livestock,  Baxter Farms, Brinker Farms, Cathlee’s Real Estate Inc., CFM Insurance Inc./First State Insurance Agency – Karen Stillman and Derrick Tyree, CHR Angus, Countryside Farm and Market, Crown Power and Equipment, Dakota Gerloff, Gerald and Mary Korman, Havener’s Termite and Insect Control, Heritage Tractor, Hunt and Kari Tainter, James Custom Flatwork, Jefferson Bank – Stephanie Blaske, Jolene Yvonne Photography and Mathew Stewart, KVK Land and Cattle, Lane Building Products, Legends Bank, Maries County Bank. Meyer Residential Services LLC, Mt. Sterling Oil, Owensville Premier Logistics, Sassmann Farms, Shelter Insurance – Kyle Meyer, Southerland Brothers Air and Fab, Terrick and Allison Ellis, The Fitness Parlor, Third Creek Creative, Tiny Tots of Owensville LLC., and Williman Fencing and Skidloader Service.

Forty-one market steers sold during the sale Saturday brought bids totalling $181,578.25.

Ninety market hogs brought $215, 273 in sales proceeds for the exhibitors.

Market sheep brought in $26,734 in sales proceeds among 27 head sold.

Exhibitors also sold 23 country cured hams which brought $11,030.44 in sales proceeds.

Two replacement heifers were also sold with $7,050 in sales recorded between them.

Resales of animals and hams also helped support two memorial funds for herdsmen awards, the Livestock Committee for improvements to existing exhibitor barns, and to a fund for the planned youth in agriculture multi-purpose building.

Donations for the resale auction held at the close of the nearly three-hour auction brought in $1,116 for the Livestock Committee’s existing facilities. Another $915.80 was made for the new building.

The Jimmy Buschmann Memorial fund for herdsman awards raised $244.96 Resales to benefit the Jimmy Frey Memorial fund brought in another $647.10.

Morgan Huebner, who along with friends have been involved in the group of buyers supporting the scholarship program, noted Hinson Farms provided the “flooring” for the steers to guarantee they sold at a minimum of $2.75 a pound.

The four-day fair began July 26 in warm and humid conditions with the temperature reading 97 degrees on the grounds. A pleasant breeze prevailed throughout the evening, however, on opening night of the 76th Gasconade County Fair.

The 2023 Gasconade County Fair Queen was Ahna Rasmussen and her court included McKenzy Echols (first runner-up), Larissa Hoelmer (second runner-up), and Payton Harness (Miss Congeniality).

Rasmussen is the daughter of Bradley and Janelle Rasmussen of Gerald.  Harness is the daughter of Justen and Amber Harness, of Owensville.  Echols is the daughter of Brad and Carla Echols of Owensville.  All three will be seniors at Owensville High School this fall. Hoelmer is the daughter of Sarah and Mitch Hoelmer of Hermann and is a recent graduate of Hermann High School.

The 2023 Little Mr. and Miss Gasconade County are Wesley Melton and Hazel Albright. First runners-up are Abel Decker and Viola Rademacher. Second runners-up are Briggs Schneider and Cora Meyer.

The opening festivities included the presentation of scholarships from the Fair Association to Bridgeman and Groner and Shelby Schutt.

Outstanding Community Service Awards were presented to longtime supporters of the fair including Dale Ridder and the family of the late Doug Meyer.

The lone cancellation during the fair was a scheduled Saturday evening concert by Sara Evans. She was placed on vocal rest by her physician as Vanderbilt Voice Clinic for treatment of laryngitis. The all-vocal country group Home Free was able to work the Gasconade County Fair into their schedule and performed a entertaining and fun show to an appreciative crowd under much cooler and less humid conditions to close out the 76th version of the county event.