Photo courtesy of Kale Boysen.
A Wapello FFA member broke the all-time record for a sale of all species at the Iowa State Fair Sale of Champions.
Kale Boysen sold his 284 lb. Grand Champion Market Hog for $54,000, which was achieved by the efforts of Boysen’s family, and the Wapello community and businesses. Boysen says, “My mom and dad helped me get a lot of local support which we had to get support in terms of the money before we go to the sale. So we raised money from our local people around Wapello and other places that we know and do business with to be able to achieve that high of a sale.”
Boysen raised $18,850 from local support and received funds from Iowa Select Farms, Lynch Livestock, Premium Iowa Pork, Kent Feeds, Smithfield Foods, and Sunglo Feeds. Boysen says, “It’s pretty crazy just to even get the Grand Champion Market Hog over all. It’s been something I’ve looked forward to my whole life. I’ve been third and fourth over all so I’ve been close to getting it but never been able to get on top. And then once I made the sale it’s kind of crazy just to think I was able to break the record of all species at the Iowa State Fair so that’s just something to be fortunate for I know that.”
Boysen is a senior at ISU majoring in Agricultural Studies and minoring in Agronomy. At ISU he is an officer of the Swine Interest Group and the Beginning Farmer’s Network.