The Sale of Champions will serve as the grand finale of the Oklahoma Youth Expo, bringing together top exhibitors and rewarding a year’s worth of hard work. As Kass Newell explained to Farm Director KC Sheperd, “that’s kind of our finale of everything, it’s the last event here and again, you get to watch these exhibitors come through the ring and get some premium money for all of the hard work that they’ve put in over the last year.”
Support continues to grow behind the sale, with strong backing from sponsors helping increase payouts to exhibitors. Newell noted, “This year we’ve got a lot of new sponsors that have come on board, the more sponsors we can get, the more we can get back to the exhibitor.”
A Unique Lead-In at the Capitol Grill
Leading into the big sale, organizers are once again showcasing champions in a unique, high-visibility setting in Oklahoma City. “We decided that we would display the steers last year, and this year we’re going to display all four species,” Newell said.
The goal is to connect urban audiences with agriculture in a memorable way. “I think it’s important to make sure that the urban community knows what we’re doing, and what better place to do it than in the heart of Oklahoma City.” Visitors can even experience something few ever do—“you literally can have lunch with all the champions, you can say you dined with a champion.”
How the Sale Works
The Sale of Champions begins at 4:00 p.m. and moves quickly, featuring a large group of exhibitors. Newell explained, “The sale starts at four o’clock, and it rolls right along; it is fast.”
Bidding is designed to be simple and accessible. “We don’t require like a bidder number, they show up and give their name basically when they bid,” she said, while also encouraging participants to provide contact information for processing. For those unable to attend in person, “we broadcast the sale, hop on and watch it it’s a really great thing that we’re able to do for these exhibitors.”
Enhancing the Experience
This year’s sale will feature some adjustments to layout and presentation, taking advantage of the venue setup. “We’re going to set it up a little bit differently so that we can have the gateway of champions sign in the sale of champions arena, and the animals will be on the other end.”
A returning highlight is the live painter, creating a one-of-a-kind piece during the event. “He’s incredibly talented, he does it live, it goes from a blank palette to literally a masterpiece at the end,” Newell said, noting the artwork will be auctioned off during the sale.
Continuing a Legacy of Support
This year also marks the first sale without longtime supporter Bob Funk, whose impact will still be felt. Newell emphasized, “We’ll miss him, but he set us up for excellence, we got the matching dollars and are able to let his legacy live on forever.”
With strong sponsorship, community involvement, and continued innovation, organizers are once again aiming high. As Newell put it, “it’s always the goal we work hard for that the more sponsors that come on board, the better.”
