The annual Starke County 4-H auction took place last Friday at the county fairgrounds in Hamlet. It was a warm evening with a cool breeze to keep everyone comfortable as they settled in for some heated bidding. This year's auction brought in a total of $194,802.90 on 421 lots and compared favorably to last year's total of $167,970.25 on 423 lots.
In the beef category, the grand champion steer was shown by Zoey Coldiron of Knox. Weighing 1,330 pounds, it sold for $3,990 ($3 per pound) to Bailey's Discount Center. The reserve champion steer and champion county bred steer, exhibited by Breyer Bennett of Knox and weighing 1,334 pounds, sold for $2,534.60 ($1.90 per pound) to Kirk Bennett Farms/Beck's Hybrids.
The reserve champion county bred steer was shown by Jake Cooper of Walkerton. Weighing 1,273 pounds, the steer sold for $2,800.60 ($2.20 per pound) to Jack and Deb Awald.
The grand champion beef carcass and champion rate of gain steer, exhibited by 10-year member Jonathon McGaughey of Walkerton, weighed 1,112 pounds and sold for $2,502 ($2.25 per pound) to buyers Terry and Lori Pucel and Pucel Farms.
The grand champion dairy steer, presented by Bryce Bachtel of Bourbon, came in weighing 1,550 pounds and sold for $3,487.50 ($2.25 per pound) to Harold Bachtel Farms.
The sale of all beef and dairy totaled $50,554.60 for 24 animals.
In the swine category, the grand champion market barrow was shown by Koy Wagner of Knox. Weighing 256 pounds, the barrow sold for $640 ($2.50 per pound) to Kankakee Valley REMC. Koy is donating all of the proceeds from the sale to the local food pantry.
The reserve champion market barrow, exhibited by Belle Bennett of Knox, weighed 289 pounds and sold for $2,745.50 ($9.50 per pound). The winning bid came from the Friends of 4-H buyers group, including Beck's, Ben Bennett, Bruce and Sandy Bennett, Connie and Joe Fluet, Kirk and Dolores Bennett, Simon's Speed Shop, Taco Garden, Joe and Nancy Edwards, Betty Osterreicher, Jay Gustafson, Kris, Michelle and Brittany Rannells, Ashley and Emilie Blair, Sim's Processing, Kurt and Dawn Hayes, DMK & H Farms and Eagle Creek Boer Goats.
The grand champion market gilt, shown by Mason Jernas of Knox, weighed 281 pounds and sold for $1,974 ($7 per pound). The buyers group included Jon and Alesha Jernas, Ed and Debbie Jernas, Ball Auction Service, Chet and Jane Hall, Steve and Laurie Hannon, Bob and Jayme Goetz, Don and Marcy Jernas, Pinnacle Insurance, Brad and Donna Lawerence, Matt and Amanda Lawerence, Tom and Judy Caudill, Hoosier Shrimp Farm, Ed and Debbie Troike, and Ludwig Tool and Die.
The reserve champion market gilt was shown by Maxwell Lawrence of Hamlet. The animal weighed in at 282 pounds, sold for $2,044.50 ($7.25 per pound) and was purchased by the Max Lawrence Buyers Group.
The grand champion swine carcass, shown by Samantha Goetz of Knox, weighed 284 pounds, sold for $1,136 ($4 per pound) and was purchased by Ed and Debbie Jernas.
The sale of all hogs totaled $94,434 for the sale of 175 animals
In the sheep category, the reserve champion market lamb and grand champion carcass was exhibited by Hannah Shidler of Knox. The lamb weighed 133 pounds and sold for $1,064 ($8 per pound) to Friends and Family of Hannah Shidler.
Grand champion county bred market lamb, shown by Owen Binkley of Knox, weighed 108 pounds and sold for $378 ($3.50 per pound) was bought by McGrath Refrigeration.
The reserve champion county bred market lamb, presented by Bianca Radtke of North Judson, weighed 115 pounds and sold for $345 ($3 per pound) to Leo and Julie Henricks.
The grand champion pair of market lambs were shown by Madeline Hewlett of Knox. The first lamb weighed 141 pounds and sold for $423 ($3 per pound), and the second lamb weighed 144 pounds and sold for $432 ($3 per pound). Farm Fertilizers and Seeds Inc. bought both animals.
With 52 lots, the sheep sale totaled $22,139.50.
In the goat category, grand champion dairy market wether, exhibited by Craig Lenig of Plymouth, sold for $195 to Fisher's Auction. The reserve champion dairy market wether, shown by Andrew Siroky of Walkerton, brought $182.40 from Smith Farm Store.
Grand champion meat market doe, shown by Macy Warren of Culver, sold for $324 to Eagle Creek Boer Goats and Michel's Lawn and Landscaping.
Hannah Shidler of Knox sold her grand champion meat wether for $637 to Kankakee Valley REMC.
Reserve champion meat wether, shown by Hannah Shidler of Knox, did not sell.
The sale of all goats totaled $17,378.25 from 63 animals.
In the poultry category, Kara Hickman of Knox sold the grand champion broiler for $150 to Aaron's Perfect Cut Tree Service. The reserve champion broiler, shown by Hannah Hickman of Knox, sold for $100 to Larry Mann Construction.
The grand champion roaster, shown by Kara Hickman, sold for $150 to buyers Leo and Julie Henricks.
The reserve champion roaster was shown by 10-year member, Anthony Krzyanowski of North Judson. The bird sold for $150 to buyers Heinold Feeds and Belstra Milling Co.
The grand champion turkey was shown by Kara Hickman, who received $200 from Larry Mann Construction. The reserve champion was also shown by Hannah Hickman. It sold for $110 to Aaron's Perfect Cut Tree Service.
The grand champion goose, exhibited by Taylor Benoit of Culver, sold for $225 to IU Health Starke Hospital. The reserve champion goose, presented by Cassidy Slease of North Judson, sold for $125 to JC Penney of Mishawaka.
The grand champion duck, shown by Jerod Stout of Grovertown, sold for $120 to Pizza King of Knox. The reserve champion, exhibited by Deacon Benoit of Culver, brought $50 from IU Health Starke Hospital.
The sale of all poultry animals, numbering 77, totaled $7,770.50.
In the rabbit category, the grand champion meat pen, shown by Kaydunce Lehiy of Grovertown, sold for $225 to Bill and Susan Fields. The reserve champion meat pen, exhibited by Kirsten Bauer of Knox, sold for $100 to Ken Kemble and Ronald Rotering.
The owner of the grand champion fryer, Dennis Cooley of Hamlet, received $150 from Heinold Feeds and Belstra Milling Co. The reserve champion fryer, shown by Angel Jimenez of Knox, sold for $140 to Behind Bars Power Sports.
The grand champion roaster, exhibited by Richard Slease of North Judson, sold for $150 to Hard Times Express LLC. The reserve champion roaster, shown by Madeline Krueger of Knox, was purchased at $75 by the Maddie Krueger Buyers Group.
The grand champion stewer, Kirsten Bauer of Knox, sold for $75 to Larry Mann Construction. The reserve champion, presented by Joshua Kelley of Mill Creek, sold for $150 to Hard Times Express LLC.
Joshua is donating all the proceeds from the reserve champion stewer sale and all of his fair sales to the Wounded Warriors project, "K9s For Warriors," which is dedicated to providing service canines to veterans suffering from post-traumatic stress disability, traumatic brain injury, and/or military sexual trauma as a result of military service post-9/11.
The sale of all rabbits totaled $2,525 for the sale of 30 animals.