Last Wednesday's 4-H livestock auction at the Allegan County Fair soared to a record $689,003.85, thanks to strong support in the swine, beef and even the gallon of milk sales. Last year's auction total was $628,562.97, and the previous record was $677,125.25 from 2014.
An emotional moment occurred at the start of the swine sale. Aimee Geurink, daughter of the late Bob Geurink, stepped into the ring to sell a donated hog in her father's memory.
Bob Geurink died last year in a construction accident and was a strong supporter of the 4-H livestock auctions at both the Allegan and Ottawa county fairs. Geurink, who owned and operated A&B Farms, was bidder No. 1 at the Allegan County Fair since 1975.
As Aimee appeared with a donated hog in the ring, Laura Modreske, a family friend, announced that proceeds from the special sale would go into a memorial fund established in Geurink's honor. The fund will support improvements at the Allegan County Fair.
After a moment of silence, the donations began rolling in, including a $4,000 contribution from John Schaendorf of Schaendorf Custom Farming. In all, 81 buyers (see list at end of story) donated $36,250 for the memorial fund.
Among the 4-H'ers selling in the auction, Madison Ellis of Wayland led the way by earning $3.50 per pound, or $4,767, from the sale of her grand champion beef steer. The 1,362-pound animal was purchased by Broekhuis Brothers Well Drilling Inc.
Standing second in the beef show was Connor Meert of Plainwell. His 1,370-pound reserve champion steer fetched $5.50 per pound, or $7,535, courtesy of Green Valley Agricultural and GreenMark Equipment.
Wyatt Modreske of Wayland sold the grand champion beef carcass for $4.25 per pound, or $3,803.75, to Sebright Products of Hopkins. Wyatt was followed by his sister, Annabelle Modreske, who sold the reserve champion beef carcass for $4.50 per pound, or $3,573, to Burnips Equipment.
In dairy beef, Caleb Tucker of Hopkins sold the grand champion steer for $2 per pound, or $3,208, to Brenner Excavating. Caleb's brother, Colby, was next with the reserve champion dairy steer. A&B Farms had the high bid, paying $1.75, or $2,348.50.
Katrina Tucker, also of Hopkins, continued the family's winning ways by showing the grand champion dairy starter calf. She earned $1.75 per pound, or $1,167.25, from Greenstone Farm Credit Services. Paisley Dorman of Wayland sold the reserve champion dairy calf and received $1.50 per pound, or $936, from A&B Farms.
In swine, Brayden and Bryce Jipping of Hamilton exhibited the top two animals, respectively, in the show. Brayden sold the 279-pound grand champion barrow for $6.50 per pound, or $1,813.50, to Greenstone Farm Credit Services. Bryce followed with the 296-pound grand champion gilt, which sold for $9 per pound, or $2,664, to JBS United and M.D. Farm Supplies.
Brayden and Bryce's sister, Alyssa, wasn't left out of the winner's circle. She showed the reserve champion gilt, which weighed 275 pounds. The hog brought $7.50 per pound, or $2,062.50, from Beck's Seed and the Wildt family.
With the reserve champion barrow, Kacie Veen of Hamilton earned $4.75 per pound, or $1,277.75, from JMS Inc.
Stephanie Harvey received a bid of $5 per pound, or $995, for her grand champion swine carcass. Secure Roofing had the high bid. Caleb Tucker showed the reserve champion swine carcass, earning $6 per pound, or $1,050, from C-Comm.
In sheep, Alyssa Jipping led the way by showing the grand champion ewe. Willow Creek Club Lambs and J&L Trucking paid $11.50 per pound, or $1,518, for the 132-pounder. Abigail Timmer sold the reserve champion ewe for $8 per pound, or $824, to black hidebeef.com. The lamb weighed 103 pounds.
Bailey Couch of Hopkins exhibited the 140-pound grand champion wether, which was purchased by Brenner Excavating for $6 per pound, or $840. With the reserve champion wether, Caleb Tucker received $9 per pound, or $1,179, from Farmers Co-op Elevator.
VanderKolk Cattle Co. came in with a bid of $6.50 per pound on the grand champion lamb carcass shown by Katrina Tucker. The transaction was worth $526.50. Londyn Rolen was next with the reserve champion lamb carcass. He sold it for $4.50 per pound, or $373.50, to Modreske Fencing and Modreske Dairy Service.
In goats, Elizabeth Williams of Allegan sold her grand champion non-dairy market goat for $555 to Pickle Street Veterinary Service. The reserve champion, shown by Logan Williams, brought $291 from A&B Farms.
With the grand champion dairy wether, Riley Williams of Allegan earned $436.50 from Moline Co-op. Amanda Green of Hopkins sold the reserve champion dairy wether for $532.50 to B&E Builders LLC.
Nolan Schricker of Hamilton exhibited the grand champion goat carcass. He earned $315 from Eastbrook Homes.
Elizabeth Williams returned to the ring to sell the reserve champion carcass. She received $224 from Miller Creek Farm Registered Herefords.
Todd Henley of Hopkins led the way in the poultry sale. He earned $608.40 from the sale of his grand champion roaster pen. The buyers were Dr. Ken and Dian Main. Jordan Beers exhibited the reserve champion roaster pen, which brought $360.50 from Monterey Veterinary Center.
Jackson Morrie of Hopkins sold the grand champion broiler pen for $285.20 to Bunker Hill Chill and Grill. The reserve champion broilers, shown by Kyle Mitchell of Allegan, brought $192 from Phil Commons Excavating.
The grand champion turkey was exhibited by Steven Henly of Hopkins. He received $433.60 from Dian Liepe. Todd Henley was next with the reserve champion turkey. It sold for $651.20 to A&B Farms.
In rabbits, Amber Vandenberg of Dorr teamed up with Bunker Hill Chill and Grill on the purchase of the grand champion meat pen. The sale price was $416. Benjamin Sharp, also of Dorr, sold the reserve champion rabbit pen for $187 to Melvin Lynema.
The milk sale generated a record amount for the 4-H dairy youths. More than two dozen buyers (see list) donated $18,125 for the 4-H dairy program. Schaendorf Custom Farming led the way with a donation of $4,200.
Subtotals, by species, include: 292 swine, $296,456.45; 64 beef steers, $244,089.50; 75 sheep, $39,127.25; Bob Geurink Memorial Sale, $36,250; 20 dairy calves, $20,476.65; 8 dairy steers, $19,727.50; gallon of milk, $18,125; 16 goats, $5,484; 15 rabbit pens, $4,470; and 7 chicken pens, $2,333.70.
Support Groups
• Bob Geurink Memorial Fund—Schaendorf Custom Farming, Burnips Equipment Co., Farm Bureau Insurance Mark Hop Agency, D&L Truck & Trailer LLC., Preferred Truck & Trailer Sales, Heasley Seeds, Green Valley Agricultural, Milbocker & Sons Inc., Reliable Road Service Inc., CHS, Hoeve Farms, Waanders Concrete Co., Rabbit River Transport II LLC., Jipping Family Farms, Agri Equipment Service, Cripps Fontaine Excavating, Northern Equipment & Leasing, Zeeland Farm Service, Hogquest, Wyrick Co., CAT Transport Inc., Generation III Excavating, Drozd Seeds, Brink Farms, Brink Show Cattle, Broekhuis Bros. Well Drilling Inc., Brenner Excavating, Crystal Flash Energy, Farmers Co-op Elevator Co., Hank Balder Farms, Macatawa Plumbing Inc., DeWeerd Farm, Allegan Vet Clinic, Jami and Ryan Nagelkirk, Mile View Acres, Collier Farms, Hamilton Ready Mix, River Roost Farm, Allegan County Fair Board, Miller Creek Farm Registered Herefords, Dykstra Farm LLC., Farm Bureau Insurance Heffner Agency, Cal Klokkert, Larry and Karen Veen, Jake's Ag Supply, Pickle Street Veterinary Service, Hopkins Propane Gas, Schipper Farms, Perrigo, Dr. Ken and Dian Main, B & E Builders LLC., Modreske Dairy Service, Lane and Mindy Sturman, Dennis Reynolds, Bob's Lawncare, Shear Heaven Hair Design, Dave and Marcia Kerber, Moline Co-op, GreenStone Farm Credit Services, Jablonski Farming LLC., Long Drive Farm Trucking Inc., Veld Farms, J.R. Young Trucking, Global Concepts, Macatawa Bank, in memory of Jim Chestnut by Chestnut Farms LLC., Christine Weber, JBS United, Lezman Roofing, Dian Liepe, Schutter Brothers Builders, Kim Mulder, C-Comm, High Wind Farm, Craig and Kerry Tucker, VanderKolk Auction & Appraisal, Missy Harvey, Ken's Delivery, Gill Roy's Hardware, Modreske Swine Farm/Bruce and Laura, and Sherwin Brower.
Gallon of Milk
• Schaendorf Custom Farming, A & B Farms, Zeeland Farm Service, Waanders Concrete Co., Milbocker & Sons Inc., CHS, GreenStone Farm Credit Services, Pickle Street Veterinary Service, Agri Equipment Service, Welchkin Acres, D&L Truck &Trailer LLC., Perrigo, Farm Bureau Insurance, Mark Hop Agency, Drozd Seeds, Burnips Equipment Co., Broekhuis Bros. Well Drilling Inc., Sunquest Hoof Trimming, Collier Farms, Farm Bureau Insurance, Heffner Agency, Dr. Ken and Dian Main, Crystal Flash Energy, Northern Equipment & Leasing, Modreske Dairy Service, Brown Hay & Grain, United Bank, Cripps Fontaine Excavating, VanDenBerg Dairy Farm, High Wind Farm,Shear Heaven Hair Design, C-Comm, Modreske Swine Farm/Bruce and Laura, Dave and Marcia Kerber, Modreske Fencing, Brink Show Cattle, Reliable Road Service Inc., Sikkema & Sons, Hopkins Propane Gas, Sherwin Brower, Rabbit River Transport II LLC., Jake's AG Supply, Jablonski Farming LLC., Long Drive Farm Trucking Inc., Legacy Dairy Supply LLC., Dairy Farmers of America, Bob Driesenga AI Service, Legacy Dairy Supply LLC., Larry Dowlegowski Hauling, Dian Liepe, Allie Elzinga, Heritage Farms LLC., Moline Co-op, Hamilton Helicopters, Petro Farms, Craig and Kerry Tucker, Don Berens family, and Sikkema & Sons.