2025 Missouri State Fair Growth & Quality Barrow Classic Results

Columbia, Mo.,-A Caldwell County resident took home the top prize out of nearly 50 hogs exhibited in this year's Growth and Quality Barrow Classic show on Aug. 8, 2025, at the Missouri State Fair in Sedalia.

The overall winner went to Ed Howell from Polo, Mo., for a Duroc barrow weighing 311 lbs. and a 0.64 FFLG lb. per day. Kendall Brewer from Saline County received second place with a spot barrow weighing 255 lbs. and a 0.44 FFLG lb. per day. The overall grand champion winner received $1,006 in prize money and the reserve champion received $587 in prize money. Additional prize money was awarded to the top ten carcass placings. The Classic was sponsored by the Missouri Pork Association, University of Missouri Extension, and the Missouri Department of Agriculture.

Brewer of Sweet Springs, Mo, exhibited the Grand Champion Junior Barrow Carcass at this year's Best of Missouri Sale on Aug. 16, 2025. She is a member of the Sweet Springs FFA and the daughter of Jared and Tara Brewer.

The purpose of the Growth & Quality Barrow Classic is to promote and recognize the pork industry in Missouri; supply quality carcass evaluation information to producers; recognize the carcass qualities which the industry desires, and to promote the economic performance trait of lean gain per day.

Participants signed up for the contest in March through an intent to participate form. A birthweight is recorded at this time. Barrows are then weighed and tattooed at the Missouri State Fair. All barrows are evaluated on three main categories: 1) visual appraisal, 2) fat-free lean gain and 3) pork quality. They are measured for 10th rib fat and loin muscle at the time of weigh-in by a certified technician. Immediately following the live show, barrows are loaded for processing and evaluated for carcass quality which includes color, pH, marbling and tenderness. This year, barrows were processed at the University of Missouri Meat Laboratory in Columbia, Mo.

The Missouri Pork Association represents the state's pork producers in the areas of promotion, research, education, and public policy. For more information about this or any other programs of the Missouri Pork Association, visit https://www.mopork.com, or call (573) 445-8375.