Allegan Rallies Around Youth After Tragedy
Published: Friday, September 22, 2023
With strong support in the beef and swine sales, the Allegan County youth livestock auction generated over three-quarters of a million dollars.
The annual fundraiser for 4-H youth featured 396 lots and raised a record $751,301.11 in receipts last Wednesday in Allegan. Over $543,000 of that total came from the swine and beef sales.
By comparison, last year's auction netted $743,901.05 from 363 lots.
Grand champion exhibitors were some of the biggest beneficiaries of the day, although the support was seen across the board. Average prices for beef steers and hogs were $4.55 per pound and $5.36 per pound, respectively. Sheep sold for $6.72 per pound.
Buyers reserved their biggest display of generosity for two swine youths, Mason and Mackenzie Meert of Plainwell. Their father, Ryan "Hank" Meert, died in a farm accident on June 29. The cash-crop farmer and teacher was only 46.
In a show of support for the family, buyers paid premium prices for the Meerts' show hogs. Mason's 250-pound barrow brought $14 per pound ($3,500) from Drozd Family Grains, H&K Excavating, Koviack Irrigation and Farm Services, Michigan Cat, Helena Agr-Enterprises LLC and VanLaan Supply.
Mackenzie's 270-pound gilt fetched $16 per pound ($4,320), courtesy of Jonathan Hop of Farm Bureau Insurance, GreenMark Equipment, Nutrien Ag Solutions of Bangor, Drozd Family Grains, Michigan Cat and Van-Laan Supply.
The grand champion barrow was exhibited by Bryce Ostrom of Dorr. He sold the 289-pounder for $10 per pound ($2,990) to Mike Kooiman of Bravo Co. Repair. Gunner Strickfaden of Hamilton auctioned off the reserve champion barrow for $5 per pound ($1,450) to Michigan Paving & Materials. The barrow weighed 290 pounds.
Mason Boeskool of Hamilton led the way in gilts, selling the 266-pound grand champion for $7.50 per pound ($2,695) to Schutter Brothers Builders. Marissa VanDerKamp of Hamilton sold the 320-pound reserve champion gilt for $3.75 per pound ($1,300) to Trestle Stop Restaurant.
Hadley Strickfaden of Hamilton parted ways with her grand champion swine carcass, earning $7 per pound ($2,060) for the 280-pound carcass. Bunker Hill Chill & Grill had the high bid. Gunner Strickfaden returned to sell the reserve champion swine carcass. He received $5 per pound ($1,375) from Generation III Excavating.
In the beef auction, Jadyn Herzog of Paris, Mich. earned $3.50 per pound ($5,005) for her grand champion steer. The 1,430-pounder was picked up by Innovation for Automation. Dylan Huff of Otsego was next with the reserve champion steer, a 1,218-pounder. Cripp's Fontaine Excavating had the high bid of $4 per pound ($5,676.50).
Nathan Buist of Otsego auctioned his grand champion beef carcass for $3 per pound ($4,275) to Brenner Excavating. Dylan Huff, also of Otsego, sold the reserve champion beef carcass for $3.50 per pound ($4,567.50) to Nutrien Ag Solutions of Bangor.
In dairy steers, Logan Welch of Wayland sold his 1,592-pound grand champion for $3.50 per pound ($5,722) to Wildt Farms and Beck's Hybrids. Abigail Timmer of Hopkins was next with the reserve champion dairy steer. The 1,634-pounder brought $3.50 per pound ($5,719) from Green Built Roofing.
In dairy starter calves, Ostrom offered his 632-pound grand champion for sale. Brenner Excavating had the high bid at $9.50 per pound ($6,754). Colby Tucker of Hopkins sold the reserve champion dairy starter, weighing 611 pounds, for $3 per pound ($1,833) to Farmers Co-op Elevator.
The top market lambs were exhibited, respectively, by Londyn Rolen of Allegan and Tucker. Rolen's 130-pound grand champion wether sold for $12 per pound ($2,510) to Brenner Excavating, and Tucker's 136-pound grand champion ewe fetched $6 per pound ($816) from Pickle Street Veterinary Service.
McKenna Modreske of Wayland sold the 147-pound reserve champion wether for $7 per pound ($1,132) to Dr. Ken and Dian Main of Gobles. Kacie Veen of Hamilton sold the 119-pound reserve champion ewe for $5.50 per pound ($654.50) to Modreske Fencing.
Tucker's second winner in the sheep show was the grand champion carcass, which brought $5 per pound ($590) from Burnips Farm Equipment. Eli Brink of Hamilton received $9 per pound ($945) for the reserve champion sheep carcass.
In goats, Daniel Hokse of Hamilton led the way with his grand champion dairy wether. Hokse earned $11 per pound ($1,399) from Endeavor Ag & Energy. Jessie Hokse, also of Hamilton, sold the reserve champion dairy wether for $11 per pound ($1,562.50) to L&R Dairy Farm of Holland.
Avery Veen of Hamilton sold the grand champion non-dairy wether for $32.50 per pound ($2,638) to Ryan Broekuis of Holland. Next was Kacie Veen of Hamilton and the reserve champion non-dairy wether. She received $20 per pound ($1,460) from Jonathan Hop of Farm Bureau Insurance.
Kacie returned to sell her grand champion goat carcass. The buyer, Putters Trucking LLC, paid $12.50 per pound ($1,575) for the 118-pound goat. Selling the reserve champion goat carcass, Hadley Strickfaden of Hamilton received $20 per pound ($2,460) from Dumont Lake Family Campground.
In poultry, Owen Reed of Dorr sold the grand champion broiler for $75 per pound ($870) to Bunker Hill Chill & Grill. Kylynne Merica of Plainwell auctioned the reserve champion broiler for $25 per pound ($1,033) to Jeff and Renae Morrie.
Cathy Verhage of Wayland was the buyer of the grand champion roaster, which was exhibited by Landon Chrusciel of Dorr. The price was $30 per pound ($1,112). Lakyn Conway of Dorr sold the reserve champion roaster for $27.50 per pound ($694.50) to Preston Machinery LLC.
The grand champion turkey pen was shown by Elle Fraaza of Plainwell. The Deer Barn of Plainwell had the high bid of $22.50 per pound ($1,008). Anika Boeske, also of Plainwell, sold the reserve champion turkeys for $17.50 per pound ($1,333.50) to Naus Racking.
In rabbits, Ellise Wedge of Allegan exhibited the grand champion meat pen. She sold her rabbits for $42 per pound ($621.60) to Salle Lego of Bangor. Sofia Berens of Wayland received $25 per pound ($830) from Bunker Hill Chill & Grill for the reserve champion meat pen.
Tytus and Holly Visser, both of Plainwell, sold a basket of goodies to represent their grand and reserve champion roaster carcass. Scott VanderKolk had the high bid at $500. A second basket representing the grand and reserve champion fryer carcass was auctioned for $400 to R&S Rental Properties LLC.
Dairy exhibitors appeared in the ring to raise money for the Allegan County dairy youth program. A gallon of milk auction brought in $32,992 from over four dozen supporters (see list at end of story). Two of the grand champions were shown by Welch, Brown Swiss, and Carlton Petroshus, Jersey.
Finally, members of the Allegan County livestock judging team raised $3,700 so they can travel to Denver, Colo. in January to compete in the National Western Stock Show. Members of the team are: Tucker, Modreske, Rolen, Sawyer Maurer and Ashlyn Verhelle.
Auction subtotals, by species, include: 214 hogs, $314,529.26; 39 beef steers, $228,843.25; 24 dairy starter calves, $50,607.50; 37 goats, $42,719.50; 38 sheep, $33,016.50; 1 gallon of milk, $32,992; 5 dairy steers, $22,797; 13 poultry pens, $7,646.50; 19 rabbit pens, $7,412.10; 5 turkey pens, $7,037.50; and 1 fundraiser for the livestock judging team, $3,700.
Support Group
Gallon of milk sale—Waanders Concrete Co., HES Equipment/A&B Farms, Zeeland Farm Service, Welchkin Acres, Milbocker & Sons, Putters Trucking LLC, Brenner Excavating, Hassevoort Cattle Co., Northern Equipment & Leasing, Pickle Street Veterinary Service, Farmers Co-op Elevator Co., Farm Bureau Insurance/Heffner Agency, Centrie Concrete Cutting, GreenStone Farm Credit Services, Coffey Ag Services, Heasley Seeds, Cornerstone Ag, H&K Excavating, Drozd Seeds, Farm Bureau Insurance/Hop Agency, Endeaver Ag & Energy, Crystal Flash, Green Built Roofing, Heritage Farms Trucking, Ridderman & Sons Oil Co., Burnips Equipment Co., Chestnut Farms, Midway Implements, Cripps Fontaine Excavating, GreenMark Equipment, Innovation for Automation, Drozd Family Grains, Dennis Polk Equipment, Jeff and Renae Morrie, Bravo Co. Repair, Scott VanderKolk, Steve Revor, Carns Farms, VanderKolk Auction & Appraisal, Schulz Trucking, 5T Farms, The Deer Barn, Dykstra Farm LLC, David Bakke Heavy Equipment, Todd Green, Veteran Trapping Service, High Wind Farm, Brown Hay & Grain, Junior Boerman family, Full Circle Plumbing Services, M3 Livestock, Jami and Ryan Nagelkirk, Naus Racing, Jake's Ag Supply, Barber Ford, Craig and Kerry Tucker, and Southside Body and Fabrication.
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