The Ottawa County Fair 4-H auction took place July 27 where 303 animals were sold. The auction gross total reached $274,000.
The highlight of the sale was a pig that was donated by a Holland, Mich. Farm Bureau Insurance agent, Mark Hop, to be sold in memory of long-time 4-H supporter, Bob Geurink. Geurink was the owner of A and B Farms in Holland and he tragically passed away in November of 2016. Hop donated the hog to raise money for the upkeep and renovations of the market livestock facilities at the Ottawa County Fair. The hog was bought and resold 17 times by area businesses and community members where it raised a total of $24,749. The current livestock show arena was dedicated to Geurink and is now called the Bob Geurink Memorial Show Arena.
The grand champion beef steer weighing 1,198-pounds was sold by Luke Wheeler of Grandville. He earned $7,487.50 ($6.25 per pound). The reserve beef steer weighing 1,207 pounds was sold by Jacob VanKampen of Holland and sold for $3,017.50 ($2.50 per pound) to Schippers Construction.
Caleb Shearer of Hudsonville exhibited and sold the 1,597-pound grand champion dairy steer for $2,395.50 ($1.50 per pound) to Barber Ford. The reserve steer weighing 1,298 pounds was sold by Janelle Potter of Zeeland for $1,947 ($1.50 per pound) to A and B Farms of Holland.
In the swine sale, Angela Raterink of Zeeland sold the 271-pound grand champion gilt for $1,219.50 ($4.50 per pound) to Lighthouse Insurance. The reserve gilt weighed 266 pounds and was sold by Jacob VanKampen of Holland for $997.50 ($3.75 per pound) to Mark Hop Agency of Farm Bureau Insurance.
The grand champion barrow was sold by Luke Geurink of Zeeland. His 265-pound pig sold for $1,192.50, $4.50 per pound, to Barber Ford. The reserve barrow weighing 292 pounds was sold by Jacob VanKampen of Holland for $870 ($2.98 per pound) to A and B Farms of Holland.
Zach Geerlings of Zeeland sold the 462-pound grand champion dairy feeder calf for $1,386 ($3 per pound) to Morren Bros. Agri Service. The reserve dairy feeder calf weighed 467 pounds and was sold by Cody Geerlings of Zeeland. He earned $1,517.75 ($3.25 per pound) from Mark Hop Agency of Farm Bureau Insurance.
In the lamb auction, Grace VanKampen of Holland sold her 146-pound grand champion market wether for $730 ($5 per pound) to AAD Technologies of Holland. The reserve market wether was sold by Jonathon Koomen of Zeeland. His 127-pound lamb sold for $444.50 ($3.50 per pound) to Lon Kimberlin.
Angela Raterink of Zeeland sold her grand champion ewe for $1,290 to Raterink Livestock. The reserve ewe was sold by Charlotte Ostric of Grand Haven for $258.
Brendan Kuyers of Zeeland sold his 72-pound grand champion market goat for $288 ($4 per pound) to Lon Kimberlin. The reserve market goat weighed 75 pounds and was sold by Nick Kuyers of Zeeland for $337.50 ($4.50 per pound) to A and B Farms of Holland.
Other auction highlights include the sale of a 209-pound hog to benefit all of the Ottawa County 4-H programs. It sold for $627 to Mark Hop Agency of Farm Bureau Insurance, Zeeland Farm Services and GreenMark Equipment of Holland. A drawing, done by Jennie Ferwerda of Zeeland, was auctioned for $1,400 and bought by Willow Creek Dairy Farm. All proceeds will benefit the Jack Ferwerda Memorial scholarship.