2026 Award Recipients

Ralph Wade has been selected as the guest of honor for the 121st Kingdom of Callaway Supper.

Kingdom of Callaway Supper President John Smart said selecting Wade to be the guest of honor was an easy decision.

"Ralph exemplifies those that are chosen to be the honored guest -- someone who is highly respected and successful in their profession," Smart said.

He said Wade has led a "remarkable" career as an auctioneer. Smart -- who is also an auctioneer-- said Wade "gladly gives his time and expertise back to help other auctioneers in their careers."

"He truly is a legend in the auction world," Smart said, adding "I have heard Ralph share his life story several times. The one thing that I admire about him most is Ralph says he was given a God-given talent to be an auctioneer, so all the 'thank yous' go to God."

Wade was born in 1944 on a farm north of a small farming community in Callaway County. He attended New Bloomfield School, playing basketball, baseball and track. He was active in 4-H, showing cattle from his home ranch at county fairs, the Missouri State Fair, and the Kansas City Royal.

Wade realized his talent for auctioneering in high school and helped local churches and Lions Club with their fundraising auctions.

After graduating from New Bloomfield High School in 1962, Wade tried to join the military but was rejected due to a back injury. Instead, he attended auctioneering school in Mason City, Iowa.

After returning from auction school, Col. Ed Buckner -- the first World Champion Livestock Auctioneer -- asked Wade to work for Central Missouri Livestock Market in Mexico, Missouri, where he expanded his knowledge of the auction method of marketing under Buckner's leadership.

Wade moved to Montgomery, Alabama in 1973 and established a new marketing platform for Hodges Bros. Markets.

He moved to Brush, Colorado in 1974 and joined Livestock Exchange's marketing team. They asked him to represent them at the World Livestock Auctioneer Championship held at the World's Fair in Spokane, Washington.

Wade was cast as an auctioneer in the 1977 movie "Stroszek" and the 1988 movie "The Girl in a Swing."

Wade formed North American Cattle Co., ordering cattle for some of the largest feedlots in the country, exporting cattle from Mexico, and leasing ranches in California and Wyoming -running a cow-calf and stocker operation.

In 1987, Jim Odle asked Wade to join Superior Livestock Auction. He is still the lead auctioneer 39 years later. He has witnessed it grow to the largest livestock marketing concept in the industry, selling over 2 million cattle annually.

Wade was the lead auctioneer at the Oklahoma National Stockyards for 17 years.

Wade met his wife Karen in 1990 and they moved to Oklahoma, where they began breeding and showing cutting and working cow horses. Today, they continue to enjoy raising horses, cattle and marketing cattle with Superior.

He was named reserve world champion livestock auctioneer in 1971 and 1972 and world champion livestock auctioneer in 1974. Wade was named reserve international livestock auctioneer in 1994 and international champion livestock auctioneer in 1995.

In 2022, Wade was inducted into the Cattle Marketing Hall of Fame. 

He is the father of Parish and Stephanie and stepfather to Natalie and Megann. Wade has seven grandchildren. 

Don Woodson will receive the Settler's Award at the 121st Kingdom of Callaway Supper.

The Settler's Award is presented to someone not from Callaway County, but who chose to move to the county and has improved the area.

Woodson said he is thankful to live in Fulton and central Missouri. He often visited family members in Fulton when he was growing up.

"Every time I drive back into the county, I find joy entering Callaway County," he said.

Woodson grew up in Columbia and graduated from Hickman High School in 1974. He graduated from the University of Missouri in 1978, studying to become a vo-ag teacher.

He started working as a 7-11 manager before serving as a Fulton police officer between 1981-1985.

"I felt at home quickly, especially after meeting Cathy Phillips and getting to meet everyone," Woodson said.

In 1985, Woodson became a State Farm insurance agent, a role he continues to hold today.

Woodson previously served on the Fulton City Council, the Traffic Board, the Utility Board and the Callaway Chamber of Commerce Board. He also served as the president of the Callaway County MU Extension Council.

Woodson served as chairman of the Fulton Housing Authority for 15 years.

A strong supporter of local and national service organizations, Woodson has held leadership positions as president and zone chairman of the Lions Club, president for two terms for th Rotary Club, and president of the Optimist Club. He also served as president of the Callaway County Chapter of the National Association of Insurance and Financial Advisors.

"I have worked hard to become the best that I can be, to make Fulton the best town, to make Callaway County the best county that I can, so we might have a great life and home for our families," Woodson said.

He is committed to the University of Missouri through decades of involvement with the Mizzou Alumni Association, where he served as president of the Board of Directors. He is a recipient of both the Mizzou Alumni Award and the prestigious Eye of the Tiger Award. Through the Alumni Association, he provided Tiger Stripe ice cream to celebrate local high school seniors enrolling at Mizzou.

Woodson served as a Sunday school teacher, trustee, deacon and praise service leader at Ebenezer Baptist Church and Unity Baptist Church.

Woodson and his wife, Cathy, raise cattle on their small family farm, where they have previously hosted the community's Town and Country Event. They have one daughter, Kelli Jo Buettner, married to Kyle Buettner. They have one grandson, Bo Buettner.

 The Central Missouri Veterans Coffee Talk will receive the Distinguished Service Award during the 121st Kingdom of Callaway Supper in March. The Distinguished Service Award is presented to an individual or organization that gives back to the community.

The coffee talk is held 9-10:30 a.m. Tuesdays in Auxvasse. Veterans from around central Missouri regularly attend to share stories, company and light refreshments, with the event averaging around 40 visitors each week.

Robert Wright nominated Central Missouri Veterans Coffee Talk and its founder Eldora Lowry for being "a lifeline for many veterans in Callaway County and central Missouri."

"This program provides a safe, welcoming space where veterans can gather weekly to share experiences, build friendships and access peer support," Wright said.

According to Wright, Central Missouri Veterans Coffee Talk recreates "camaraderie veterans experienced during time in service."

"Through open dialogue, mutual understanding and shared activities, the group strengthens emotional resilience and promotes well-being," Wright said.

The Fulton Sun previously reported Lowry founded Central Missouri Veterans Coffee Talk in 2020 after she witnessed veterans conversing during a Central Missouri Honor Flight.

"(Veterans) need to talk to one another, not with a family member standing by," Lowry said in 2025. "They need to talk, the ones that served in war."

Lowry explained she visited a similar veterans' event in Troy and got the idea to start her own. She was unsuccessful in getting strong attendance in Mexico or Fulton, so she decided to host a gathering in Auxvasse. She estimated the meetings have drawn over 180 different veterans across central Missouri since she began coordinating them.

Central Missouri Veterans Coffee Talk has showcased various resources for veterans, such as the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA), the VA Suicide Prevention Team, the Vet Center, the Missouri Association of Veterans Organizations (MAVO) and the Missouri Veterans Association.

For more information about Central Missouri Veterans Coffee Talk, contact Lowry at 573-386-2148 (home) or 573-253-0288 (cell).

The 121st Kingdom of Callaway Supper will be held March 10 at William Woods University in Fulton. For more information or to purchase tickets, visit kingdomofcallawaysupper.com.