Garrett Ternet's sale of his dairy beef steer surpassed his own record he set last year at the Allen County 4-H Fair auction on July 31. He received $5,250 for his 2017 steer which was just $50 more than he collected for his 2016 steer. One more dairy beef steer sold and the sales added up to $6,490. Ternet was not the only 4-H member who broke a sales record.
Ten-year member Isabelle Wellman sold her dairy beef feeder calf for a record $2,500. The old record was $2,100 and occurred in 2013. There were five feeder calves auctioned off to 4-H supporters with sales totaling $3,860. Wellman also won grand champion with her steer in the dairy beef show but did not sell him. The steer weighed in at 1,540 pounds. The reserve grand champion was shown by Myra Berning and did not go through the auction either.
For the most part, 10-year members earned good prices for their animals. Kallie Knott completed her 10th year in 4-H by showing the grand champion beef steer. A large group of Knott's supporters banded together and paid $4,100 for her 1,350 pound steer ($3.04 per pound). Ethan Beaupre sold his 1,355 pound reserve grand champion steer for $2,700 ($1.99 per pound) to a number of 4-H backers (see list). Sales of the five beef steers totaled $12,530.
Miranda Dunten was another ten-year member rewarded with not only a bountiful price but a scholarship for her 4-H achievement. She sold a basket of dairy products representing her grand champion cow to numerous supporters for $2,050 (see list). Dunten won the Marvin Henry memorial scholarship. She will use her scholarship at the University of Cincinnati to study engineering and construction. The reserve dairy cow was shown by Natalie Hough. Hough sold her dairy products for $540 to A Plus Irrigation.
The grand champion barrow was not sold at auction because Whitney Bartkus and her family are keeping him for the freezer. "We ran out of pork patties for breakfast and I can't wait to have them again," said Bartkus. Bartkus' pig weighed in at 295 pounds. The 242-pound reserve grand champion was exhibited by Taylor Kneubuhler and sold to another group of 4-H supporters (see list) for $3,250 ($13.43 per pound). The swine club had the most animals that went through the auction. Fifty-five pigs brought in $52,389.
Ethan Beaupre showed both the grand champion meat doe and wether in the goat show. Beaupre is taking the wether to the state fair and did not sell. Evan Brubaker exhibited the reserve grand champion meat goat weighing 88 pounds that sold to 4-H supporters (see list) for $2,030 ($23.07 per pound). There were 19 goats sold at the auction for $30,035.
The overall grand champion poultry exhibiter was William Edwards. He won top honors in both the commercial and the exhibition categories. There were 25 lots of poultry that sold for $12,780.
The grand champion and reserve grand champion market lambs will be shown at the state fair and were not sold. The grand champion was exhibited by Luke Lael and the reserve grand lamb was shown by Shelby Smith. Four-H members sold 10 sheep in the auction which brought in $4,030 for their owners.
Another record was set in the rabbit sales. Amber Hoopengardner sold her meat pen of rabbits for $2,485. The old record was $1,950 and was set in 2015. There were 13 lots of rabbits sold at the auction for a total of $8,090. Neither the grand nor reserve grand champions of the rabbit show were sold in the auction. The six class (large) grand champion rabbits were shown by Lauren Lutes. Taylor Kneubuhler was the reserve grand champion. Maranda Malcolm exhibited the four class (small) grand champion rabbits. Kassondra Stockel won reserve grand champion.
Every year, a number of 4-H animal exhibiters show their gratitude and generosity by giving back to the community. There were two sheep, four goats and 10 pigs donated to the Food Bank. The animals were sold for $2,226.90.
In all, there were 139 lots sold at the auction for $127,975.83 to benefit the 4-H exhibitors. The amount was a little less than last year's total of 130,309.21 and about $7,000 less than the record set in 2009.
Support Groups
Kallie Knott—Yarde Veterinary Service, Westside Tractor, Westfield Insurance, Knott Drainage and Excavating, Jerry Ott family, Mark and Lisa Beaupre, Jon and Mary Smith family, Trent Kleine, Mark and Helen Brubaker, Schrader Real Estate and Auction of Columbia City, Arden Schrader, Bueschings Peat Moss and Mulch, Schaefer Oil Company, Ott Charolais, Ag Plus South Whitley, Friends of Kallie Knott, Shipshewana Auction and Flea Market, Ott Brothers Show Cattle, Joe and Gail Ryan, Mudrack Tree Service Inc., Shirey Farms. LaOtto Meats, Hartman Brothers Heating and Air and Bonin family.
Ethan Beaupre—Mark Anderson family, Farmers and Merchants Bank LaOtto, Mid State Farmers Mutual Insurance, Jeff and Marilyn Arnold, Ag Plus South Whitley, Ott Brothers Show Cattle, Jerry Ott family, Kruse Automotive Center, NU Insulation, LaOtto Meats, Hockemeyer Show Stock,
Mark and Lisa Beaupre, Mudrack Tree Service Inc. and Joe and Gail Ryan.
Miranda Dunten—Mid State Farmers Mutual Insurance, Troy Chaffee, Chris Turpchinoff, Robert Lee, Brodbeck Seeds-Randy Schaefer, Hough Family, J and K Smith Family Farm, Lee Bradtmueller Family, Hartman Brothers Heating and Air, A Plus Irrigation Inc., Shawn Parker family, Ternet Farms Partnership, Dale and Marilou Linnemeier, Benchmark Ag Services, Kenn-Feld Group Inc., NU Insulation, Terry Sible and family, Allen County Farm Bureau Inc., AG Plus South Whitley, Fort Wayne Pet Hospital, Jerry Ott family, Joe and Gail Ryan, Lewis Livestock, Trent Kleine, Mark and Lisa Beaupre, Wells Fargo Bank of Auburn, Great Lakes Hybrids, Gail Edwards, Ken and Marlene Kurtz, MacAllister Machinery Ag, Manchester Farm Center, Tractor Supply Co, Bueschings Peat Moss and Mulch Inc., Menchofer Cattle Co. Hauling, PNC Bank, Dairyland Seed Company, Mudrack Tree Service Inc. and Red Barn Ranch.
Taylor Kneubuhler—Kleine Farms, Jesswein Farms, Dale Jesswein, Justin, Kari and family, Devon and Carol Jesswein, Kneubuhler Farms, C L and S, IAB Financial Bank Inc., Max Delagrange Inc., Pioneer Hybrids, Wayne Lake, Indiana Wild, Troxel Equipment, J and K Concepts, DozerWerks Excavating, Horizon Bank, Ag One Agency Inc., Central States Enterprises and Milan Center Feed and Grain.
Evan Brubaker—Rusty Sobaski-Zoets, Jon and Mary Smith, Tim and Barb Richardson, Pam and Jerry Ott, John Brubaker, Bob and Opal Brubaker, Farm Bureau. Hartman Brothers, Mudrack Tree Service, Ag Plus, LaOtto Meats, Max Delagrange, Jansen's Chiropractic, Dr. Steve Woodward, River's Edge Natural Health. Sheperd's Automotive, Paul and Shari Meyers, Melissa McLaughlin Tax Service, Hayes Mead Dentistry, Ed Hatch Plumbing, Matt and Carol Richardson.