The St. Joseph County (Mich.) 4-H auction began on a somber note last Thursday when the fair paused to remember the late Frank Sherman. A longtime auction supporter and local John Deere dealer, Sherman passed away in July at the age of 70.
"Frank was one of the true good guys," said Eva Beeker, 4-H program coordinator with Michigan State University Extension. "He himself was a past 10-year 4-H member. He had a soft spot for the 4-H programs in St. Jo-seph and Branch counties in Michigan and LaGrange, Noble and Steuben counties in Indiana."
She added, "Frank was a huge supporter of clients, family and friends. He knew that 4-H is a youth organization that not only is fun but teaches life skills and responsibil-ity."
Members of the Sherman family, including his widow, Kathleen, and sister, Rebec-ca Pueschel, continued the family tradition of buying livestock at the St. Joseph County Grange Fair. They had a hand in purchasing the grand and reserve champion market ewes, among other ani-mals.
The St. Joseph County 4-H auction raised a total of $425,387.88, down from last year's effort of $457,034.69. Beeker said that beef and feeder steer support prices were down from last year.
Emily Mead, Sherman's great niece from Sturgis, stood first in the lamb sale and earned $15.50 per pound ($2,092.50) for her 135-pound grand champion ewe. The buyers were the Frank Sherman family, John and Rebecca Pueschel, Boland Tire Co., Sturgis Bank and Trust Co., Lima Elevator and Sturgis Electric Motor. Zach Pueschel, Sherman's great nephew from Stur-gis, sold the reserve champion ewe for $4.75 per pound ($589) to the Frank Sherman family and GreenMark Equipment of LaGrange. The lamb weighed 124 pounds.
Maddie Yuhas of Sturgis was a double winner in the lamb show, bringing both the grand and reserve champion wethers. She sold the 147-pound grand champion for $8.50 per pound ($1,249.50) to Dove Ag Services. The 139-pound reserve champion was auctioned for $6.50 per pound ($903.50) to the Maddie Yuhas Buyer Club.
Ashton Wells of Bronson exhibited the grand champion sheep carcass and earned $8 per pound ($904) from J.L. Milling. Chance Scheffler of Leonidas sold the reserve champion sheep car-cass for $3.75 per pound ($450) to Georganne Lewis.
In beef, Brady Littlefield of Burr Oak led the way with the grand champion steer. He sold the 1,360-pounder for $3 per pound ($4,080) to Mei-jer of Three Rivers. Reserve champion exhibitor Gracie Russell of Vicksburg received $2 per pound ($2,840) from H&R Block, Red Barn Greenhouse and The Herrington's. Her steer weighed 1,420 pounds
Rebecca Crites of Sturgis sold the champion beef carcass for $1.40 per pound ($1,876) to Crop Production Services. Mariah Jansen, also of Sturgis, offered the reserve champion beef carcass for $2.30 per pound ($3,151) to Jansen Plastering.
Hannah Rice of Mendon led the 1,455-pound grand champion dairy market steer, which brought $2.50 per pound ($3,637.50). The buyers were Michiana Agra, Iron Circle Services LLC, GreenMark Equipment, Sturgis Bank and Trust Co., Bo-land Tire Co., Drake's Crystal Flash, Walther Farms and Dove Ag Services. Jordan Clemens of Stur-gis sold the 1,355-pound reserve champion dairy steer for $1.35 per pound ($1,829.25) to Marshall & Karrie Landis Farms and Ron and Angie Landis.
Adrienne Bruystens of Fulton exhibited the grand champion dairy feeder steer and earned $3 per pound ($1,725) from Wakeshma Farms, Next Generations Seeds, Mendon Seed Growers, Edd's Supplies, Advanced Farm Supply and Lutes Flying Service. Collin Keeslar of LaGrange sold his reserve champion feeder steer for $3.75 per pound ($2,156.25) to Sturgis Bank and Trust Co. and Lima Elevator.
In swine, Ben Littlefield of Burr Oak exhibited the 280-pound grand champion gilt and earned $3.50 per pound ($980) fromSturgis Bank and Trust Co. and Boland Tire Co. Ben's brother, Andrew, showed the reserve champion gilt and received $2.25 per pound ($654.75) from Shipshewana Auction Inc. and Farmstead Inn.
A bid of $5 per pound purchased the grand champion barrow, exhibited by Carlie Doehring of Mendon. The 275-pounder brought a total of $1,375 from Crop Production Services and Drake's Crystal Flash. Standing in the reserve champion pen was Wyatt Cool of Mendon. His 278-pounder sold for $2.35 per pound ($653.30) to W. James Fritz.
Elizabeth Powers of Union led the way in the swine carcass show. She sold the grand champion carcass hog for $3.25 per pound ($754) to GreenStone Farm Credit Services. Charity Yeager of Centreville received $3.35 per pound ($961.45) from Peggy and Gary Leh-man.
In the gallon of milk sale, St. Joseph County dairy exhibitors accepted donations totaling $9,025. Eighty-five percent of the proceeds will be shared by St. Joseph County 4-H dairy exhibitors, while the balance will be divided between the champion senior dairy show person and the St. Joseph County Dairy Fund.
The highlight of the goat sale was Katelyn Walters and her grand champion non-dairy market wether. The Burr Oak youth earned an impressive $5,000 for her 92-pound goat. The buyers were SCI Leasing Group, GW Farms, Findley Feeds, Breckenridge Insurance, The Andersons, Hunts Concrete, Dean Fisher Excavating Inc., Remington Seeds LLC, Edd's Supplies Inc. and Michi-gan Valley Irrigation.
Katelyn also exhibited the champion carcass goat, earning $800 from Har-old Walters. Karter Whitesel of Howe sold the reserve champion carcass goat for $400 to Ben and Pen-ny Kulpinski, Kroontz General Machine, Tool Shed, and Pack Rat Auctions.
With the reserve champion non-dairy market goat, Jaylyn Kelley of Burr Oak received $500 from Sturgis Bank and Trust Co. and Oakleaf Financial.
Taylor Bell of Schoolcraft sold the grand champion dairy market goat for $800 to Michiana Agra, Tractor Supply Co., Family, Farm and Home, Tim and Laura Schug, Walther Farms, Drake's Crystal Flash, GreenMark Equipment and Koviak Irrigation and Farm Ser-vices.
Joseph Rambadt of Sturgis followed with the reserve champion dairy goat, earning $500 from Red Barn Greenhouse.
In market chickens, Jayna Seekman of Bronson sold the grand champion pen for $350 to Omni Community Credit Union of St. Joseph County and Bird, Brothers, Scheske and Reed. Next was Kimberly Eaton of Centreville with her reserve champion chickens. She received $300 from Mendon Auto Supply.
Benjamin Byler of Bronson sold the grand champion turkeys for $600 to Sam and Carter Pizza and More. The reserve champion turkeys from Rachel Wright of Constantine brought $350 from Chupp's Concrete.
In rabbits, Sidney Chenier of Schoolcraft sold the grand champion pen to Jeff Brazo of A.W. Ayres Insurance Co. The purchase price was $475. Reserve champion exhibitor Marissa Bohm-Aiello of Portage received $550 from three buy-ers: GreenMark Equipment, Legacy Land Farms Inc. and Dale Stuby Farms.
In other news, the fair inducted two individuals into its hall of fame. Honored were the late Charlie Beal, who served on the fair board and was a successful dairyman; and Selma Comstock, who helped to bring the Miracle of Life birthing tent as an educational exhibit to the fair.