George Achieves Three-peat Win at Berrien Co. Fair
Published: Friday, August 24, 2018
Trent George of Niles achieved a rare three-peat in the livestock arena during last week's Berrien County Youth Fair in Berrien Springs.
George, who is in his ninth year as a fair exhibitor, brought the grand champion market hog, grand champion market lamb and grand champion Boer/Kiko goat. On top of that, George was named overall champion sheep showman and overall champion swine showman.
Last Friday, he sold all three winners in the large animal auction, earning a combined $5,384. The sales were as follows:
• Market hog (280 pounds)—$8 per pound ($2,240) to Reyes Adent Family Foundation;
• Market lamb (134 Pounds)—$16 per pound ($2,144) to Grandpa Durm, Shipshewana Livestock Inc.,
Bruce Barwick Builders, Country Heritage Credit Union, Grandpa and Grandma George, Jeffrey George, Michiana Agra and Bittner Jennings Attorneys; and
• Boer/Kiko market goat —$1,000 to Grandpa Durm, Matt Warda Hay Sales, GreenStone Farm Credit Services, New Prairie Veterinary Service and Mark's Farm Supply.
When asked to sum up his week, George said he felt honored and also very happy to see his hard work come to fruition. He wanted to thank his parents, Tim and Carrie George; his grandparents, Steve and Jeannine George, Charles Durm, and Cathy and Bruce Barwick, and everyone who helped him along the way.
For the sale as a whole, last week's large and small animal auctions raised a combined $477,674.15. The total is down some $62,000 over last year's effort of $540,395. This year's auctions featured 923 lots, 22 more than 2017.
Standing second in line in the swine auction, Natalie Hart of Benton Harbor sold her 280-pound reserve champion market hog for $8 per pound ($2,240). The buyers were Wilbur Ellis, Cuthbert Agency Inc., Arnt Asphalt, TJ's Sports Grill, Greg Orchards and Produce Inc., Keepin' You in Stitches, Berrybrook Farms and Hillview Farms.
With the champion carcass, Victoria Wurzel of Berrien Center earned $2 per pound ($1,350) from RMC Quality Construction. Cora Schau of Buchanan was next with the reserve champion carcass. She received $8 per pound ($1,960) from Lakeview Farms, Bake's Lawn Service, Country Heritage Credit Union, Epic Builders Roofing, Scott and Beth Klug, Kuntz's 4-M Cattle Farm, Soos Insurance, Brooke and Ella Totzke, Kathleen Clark and the Boys, Robert Brunke Plumbing, MLK Farm, Sugar Hill Farm, Frame Products, Grandpa and Grandma Kuntz, and Dale and Deanna Robson.
Dillon Backus of Bridgman exhibited the 245-pound champion barrow, which brought $2.50 per pound ($612.50) from Mr. and Mrs. Paul Schutze and Cutco Sales and Service. The 290-pound reserve champion barrow, shown by Cody Williams of Galien, was auctioned for $2 per pound ($580) to Meijer.
In another swine highlight, Matthew Koebel of Berrien Springs sold his champion mediumweight barrow for $46 per pound ($11,730). The 255-pounder was purchased by SMP Marketing LLC, Maat Produce Inc., Georgia Crate and Basket Co., and GreenMark Equipment.
The grand champion in the beef show was exhibited by Kyle Rogers of Niles. He sold his 1,350-pounder for $3.50 per pound ($4,725) to a support group (see list at end of story). With the 1,195-pound reserve champion steer, Andrew Pastryk of Galien earned $1.40 per pound ($2,531.50) from Reyes Adent Family Foundation.
Dylan Crocker of Buchanan sold the champion market heifer for $1.25 per pound ($1,681.25) to Justin Scherer of Nutrient Ag Solutions. The reserve champion heifer, shown by Taylor Kirk of Galien, brought $2.10 per pound ($2,215.50) from Farrell and Bev Kirk of Three Oaks.
In the gallon of milk auction, grand champion Holstein exhibitor Kaylee Shuler of Baroda raised $3,070 from supporters (see list). Half of the proceeds will go to her, while the other half benefits the dairy barn at the fairgrounds.
Hannah Hart of Benton Harbor received $19 per pound ($2,622) for the reserve champion market lamb, which weighed 122 pounds. The high bid came from Cuthbert Agency Inc., Arnt Asphalt, TJ's Sports Grill, Wilbur Ellis, Greg Orchards and Produce Inc., Berrybrook Farms and Hillview Farms.
Jason Zeilke of Coloma exhibited the 136-pound reserve champion ewe and earned $9.50 per pound ($1,292) from Grandma and Papa Timm, Totzke Brothers, Grandpa and Grandma Mitteer and Great Grandma Gilchrist, and Shannon's Daycare Inc. Drew George sold the reserve champion wether for $12 per pound ($1,416) to Bittner Jennings Attorneys, Shipshewana Livestock Inc., Bruce Barwick Builders, Country Heritage Credit Union, Grandpa and Grandma George, and Jeffrey George.
In goats, Olivia Elliott of Baroda picked up $1,700 from a support group (see list) on the sale of milk from her grand champion dairy doe.
Zachary Young of Niles sold his grand champion dairy market goat for $525 to Clear Water Meats, Mark Young family, Southwestern Michigan College, Community Mills, Bruce and Suellen Foster, Cross Creek Farm, All in Farms, Grandma and Grandpa Young, Big Bear Auction Co. and Southwestern Michigan Feed.
Jessica Hargreaves of Watervliet sold the reserve champion dairy market goat for $200 to Reyes Adent Family Foundation.
With the reserve champion Boer/Kiko goat, Andrew Pastryk of Galien earned $650 from Country Heritage Credit Union, Weinberg Farms, Galien Pro Mart, Scott Phelps/Farm Bureau Insurance, Lakeview Farms, Frame Products, Andrew Pastryk Goat Buyer Group and Mark's Farm Supply.
In last Thursday's small animal auction, Kallah Wheat led the way with her grand champion market turkey. The bird sold for $1,000 to Dale Weldy of Buchanan and Weldy Sales and Service. The reserve champion turkey was exhibited by Abigail Reynolds, who received $200 from Sunnybrooke Growers.
Rylee Rudolph led the way in the market chicken show, selling her grand champion pen for $375 to D&J Auto Parts, Grandma and Grandpa Davis, Sons of the American Legion Post 204 and Big C Lumber in Three Oaks. Grace Chisek was next with the reserve champion chickens. She earned $1,005 from Greg and Cindy Chisek, Arnt Asphalt, Keepin' You in Stitches, TJ's Sports Grill, Great Lakes Truck and Auto Repair, C&C Construction, Clem and Bobbie's Dry Cleaning, Wilbur Ellis, Greg and Cindy Chisek, and Cuthbert Agency Inc.
In rabbits, Sophie Bachman of Niles exhibited the grand champion single rabbit. She auctioned it for $250 to Hardings Market of Niles. The runnerup was her sister, Grace Bachman, who sold the reserve champion single rabbit for $325 to Hilltop Café.
Kloe Kiggins of Niles exhibited the grand champion pen of rabbits, which brought $300 from Hardings Market of Buchanan. Hardings Market also bought the reserve champion pen, paying $200 to Alexis Street.
Sale subtotals, by species, are: 225 hogs, $228,260.65; 51 steers, $104,960.50; 246 rabbit pens, $37,735; 42 sheep, $30,413; 164 poultry pens, $29,810; 104 turkeys, $16,925; 1 gallon of milk, $3,095; and 1 quart of goat's milk, $1,750.
Support Groups
• Kyle Rogers—Heritage Farms,
Automotive Plus, Kachur Tree Service, Dargus Ag LLC, Shannon's Daycare Inc., Payne Family Cattle Farm, Lakeview Farms, R&R Commercial Services, Dad and Jen, Grampa Rogers, Bob and Cathy White, Yoder Oil Co., Becky Wicks, Bob Kara family, Sirloin Tips and Earl Colglazier, Victory Lube Car Care Center, Bill Mottl family, Clarks Towing, Southwestern Michigan Feed, Robert Brunke Plumbing, Matt Pinkerton/SHF Cattle Co.
• Grand champion gallon of milk—Al and Kristine Shuler family, Karen Hanson, Hank and Patty Richmond, Baroda Party Store, Romas Pizza of Bridgman, Custom Tool and Die, P&R Body Shop, Rich Killips family, Bob Mischke Farms, Pat, Teri, Marissa And Natalie Freehling, Chad Starbuck, Jeff and Elaine Starbuck, Dan Starbuck, Steve Lozmack family, Ruth Shuler, Hardings Market of Bridgman, Pike Funeral Home, John and Patsy Hopkins family, Eric's Bridgman Café, Derek Pepper and Savannah, Jerry and Trish Vigansky, Bridgman Family Dental, GreenStone Farm Credit Services, Farm Bureau Insurance/Marty Rudlaff Agent, Whirlpool Corp., Deb Shermak, Mike Hanson, Grant Kanuth, Walter E. Heyn Sons Excavating, Clyde and Patty Fisher and family, Elva and Vern Fisher family, Tom and Rhonda Fisher, Delores Rogalski, Everett and Virginia Boakes family, Boss Services, Mike and Kim Schmaltz family, Brunke Geiger Heating and Cooling, Julie, Olivia and Jack Elliott, Don Smith, Joe Gerber, Hillview Farms, Wilbur Ellis, Country Heritage Credit Union, Bittner Jennings, Shuler Farms, Mike Alaga, Rebecca Darwiche, Dale Seyfred/Pioneer Seed, Zak Kretchman/AgriGold Seed, El Amigo Pepe
• Grand Champion Quart of Goat Milk—Supporters of Olivia Elliott, Jason, Susan, Tyler and Charlie Ewalt, Bob Mischke Farms, Al and Kristine Shuler family, Geoff Klopenstine, Jerrold And Kim Wojahan Family, Shuler Farms, Dargus Ag LLC, Mark Young family, Grandma and Grandpa Dargus, Julie, Olivia And Jack Elliott, Steve Lozmack family, Kelly Ewalt and Steve Schmaltz, Grandma Barb Delong, Sunnybrooke Growers, Jerry and Trish Vigansky, Southwestern Michigan College, Brian Elliott, Keran Padla, Colleen and Jerry Kuehnlein and Fresh Décor, Farm Bureau Insurance/Loren Korfmacher, Brooke and Ella Totzke, Whirlpool Corp., Louie Dominion Chevy, Southwestern Michigan Feed, Pat, Teri, Marissa And Natalie Freehling, Brian and Shaya Tozke, All in Farms, Todd, Noreen, Alex and Austin Soos, Lazy Legz Farm, Clear Water Meats, Jake & Ethan Hemphill, Ceres Solutions, Rich And Terri Albers, Stacey Appraisal Service
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