Grand Champion Lamb in Valpo Brings $120 per Pound
Published: Friday, August 11, 2023
This year's Porter County 4-H Celebration Sale may be remembered as the one that produced a record lamb sale.
Cora Stoner received a whopping $120 per pound, or $15,860, for her grand champion market lamb, which was also the grand champion county bred lamb. That eclipsed a 23-year record, set in 2000, of $100 per pound.
Cora, who is 13 and the daughter of Ken and Julie Stoner, said the crossbred lamb, whose name is Balboa, was born and raised at their Valparaiso farm.
"We've had him since he was a baby," Cora said. "We've always like him."
She worked with the lamb twice a day from May through fair week and was tickled when the 130-pounder was selected as the overall grand champion.
Prior to auction day, Julie contacted family, friends and local businesses to organize a buyer group (see list at end of story).
"We didn't ask any of them for a certain amount of money at all," she said. "When they told us how much money they were willing to donate, it just started adding up."
Cora said she thought Balboa might bring $30 per pound, or even $50 per pound, but had no idea the bidding would surge well past $100 per pound. She was very excited, and grateful, for the support.
The Porter County Fair's annual 4-H Celebration Sale was held on July 27 in Valparaiso. There were 299 lots sold, totaling $611,612.29. By comparison, last year's auction raised $690,000, but that was largely influenced by one sale worth $126,000.
The beef auction saw 55 lots move through the ring. Dallas Richey's grand champion steer was first, fetching $16.50 per pound ($21,862.50), which beat the previous record, set in 2021, of $13 per pound.
Norah Grimmer's reserve champion steer sold for $17 per ($22,780), beating the previous record, set in 2019, of $15 per pound.
Complete buyer lists were not available at press time.
Morganne O'Keefe sold her grand champion beef carcass, which was the reserve champion rate of gain steer, for $6.50 per pound ($10,335). This surpassed the previous record, set in 2016, of $6 per pound. Mairead Hannon Kennedy's reserve champion carcass brought $3.75 per pound ($4,950).
The grand champion county bred steer, exhibited by Bryce Metzger, sold for $5 per pound ($6,375), Cody Johnson sold the reserve champion county bred steer, and champion rate of gain steer, sold for $3.75 per pound ($4,743.75).
In swine, there were 114 lots sold. Analysa Miller auctioned off her grand champion barrow for $10 per pound, totaling $2,780. Elizabeth Schuck sold the reserve champion barrow for $8 per pound, totaling $2,040.
Jacob Kolan exhibited the grand champion pen of two hogs and sold them for $4 per pound totaling $2,048. With the reserve champion pen of two, Noah Schuck received $5 per pound, totaling $2,735.
Fifteen dairy steers were offered for sale. The grand and reserve champions did not sell.
The lamb auction saw 56 lots go to the highest bidder. Placing second after Stoner's record-setting lamb was the reserve champion lamb belonging to Mattie Sandberg. It sold for $9 per pound ($1,188).
Max Byers sold his grand champion Royale market lamb carcass for $8 per pound ($1,088). Tyler Nichols exhibited the reserve champion Royale lamb carcass. Sale information was not available at press time.
Dakota Compton received $7 per pound ($847) for his grand champion lamb carcass. McKenzie Birky sold the reserve champion lamb carcass for $5 per pound ($585).
With the reserve champion county bred lamb, Jonah Hasse received $3 per pound ($459).
Kristin O'Dell exhibited the grand champion pen of two lambs and earned $4.50 per pound ($1,170). Morgan Shurr sold the reserve champion pen of two for $3 per pound ($903).
There were new records set in the auction of dairy milk. Of the six lots sold, three brought record prices.
Elodie Spears sold grand champion Ayrshire milk for $3,750, surpassing the previous record, set in 2022, of $1,800.
Emma Spears also earned a record price for grand champion Brown Swiss milk. She received $2,500, beating the previous record, set in 2022, of $1,800.
The third record was established for reserve champion Brown Swiss milk, offered by Elodie Spears. She received $3,500, which beat the previous record of $1,600, set in 2019.
Isabella Pitts sold milk from her grand champion Holstein for $500. Dalilah Cable received $600 for milk from her reserve champion Ayrshire. Cody Boone showed the reserve champion Holstein and earned $300.
In goats, 36 wethers were auctioned. Carter Biggs sold milk from his grand champion dairy goat for a record $2,150, beating the previous record, set in 2022, of $1,700. Ava Pozil sold milk from the reserve champion dairy goat for $1,400, beating the previous record, set in 2016, of $1,200.
Max Compton's grand champion dairy wether brought $600. Kallie Sutter's grand champion meat goat sold for $700, and her reserve champion meat wether brought $900.
Four-H'ers sold 12 lots of poultry. Austin Wallace sold his champion bronze turkey for $1,000. The reserve champion bronze turkey, shown by Lauren Wallace, brought $1,300, surpassing the previous record, set in 2019, of $1,150.
With the champion white turkey, Kristin O'Dell received $1,250. Heather Cox was next with the reserve champion white turkey. She earned $1,000.
Andrea Lucas exhibited both the grand and reserve champion broilers. She sold the grand champion for $1,000 and the reserve champion for $700. Lucas continued her winning ways by selling the champion roaster for $900 and the reserve roaster for a record $1,500. The previous record was $1,200.
Sophia DeLeon auctioned her champion meat duck for $1,100, surpassing the previous record, set in 2022, of $1,000. Lucas Pettit sold the reserve champion meat duck for $400.
The grand champion eggs were displayed by Greta Pressel. She received $750. Pettit sold reserve champion eggs for $1,200, eclipsing the previous record, set in 2021, of $1,100.
In rabbits, four lots were sold, starting with Byers and his grand champion meat pen. The pen sold for $1,100. With the reserve champion meat pen, Pressel received $800.Pressel also sold the grand champion rabbit carcass for $500, and Byers auctioned the reserve champion rabbit carcass for $300.
Species subtotals were not available at press time.
Support Groups
Cora Stoner grand champion market lamb—Shidler Dentistry; Fisel, Lauer, Johnson FRCI; Gutwein & Risner Insurance; Alpine Construction; Horvat's Custom Hardwoods; Pottinger Equipment; Speciality Food Group; Hunter Nutrition; Sharon Mortensen; Kraft Auctions; Scarborough Farms; Evelyn Stoner; Dan and Peggy Dillabaugh; Tom and Jackie Stoner; Sandi Haggerty; Barb Wiggins; Joe and Jen Dillabaugh; Mark Good; Mark Maxwell; Mike Birby; Dave Good; Dan Marchetti; Steve Johnson; Bill Schott; Matt Murphy; Lou Varner; Chris and Christine Goetz; Randi Webber
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