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Anya Butler Breaks Lamb Sale Record


by Jerry Goshert

Published: Friday, July 26, 2024

Receipts from the Van Buren County large animal auction totaled $389,317.42 from the sale of 273 lots last Thursday in Hartford. Combined with the $41,680.20 generated from last Wednesday's small animal auction, Van Buren County youths earned a grand total of $430,997.62.

This year's auction was roughly $66,000 better than last year's effort of $323,061.69.

Leading the way was Anya Butler of Lawrence. In her final year at the fair, the 18-year-old daughter of Matt and Michele Butler showed one grand champion and two reserve champions. She also distinguished herself in the ring, winning the supreme senior showmanship title for the second year in a row.

Butler will be heading to Iowa State University this fall to study animal science. Buyers sent the 2024 Paw Paw High School graduate off in fine fashion, purchasing over $20,000 worth of her livestock. In one sale, Butler partnered with Derek Lietzau, a local Farm Bureau Insurance agent, who purchased her reserve champion beef steer. Lietzau bought the 1,420-pounder for $6.85 per pound ($9,727).

Lietzau also had the high bid on Butler's 130-pound ewe. It wasn't a grand or reserve champion, but when the gavel fell at $60 per pound ($7,800), Butler was in tears and the auction crowd responded by applauding the record sale. The previous mark was $38.50 per pound.

Other exhibitors, like Hunter Conklin of Lawrence, also cashed in. Conklin sold the grand champion beef steer for $4 per pound ($5,720) to his father, Corey Conklin, who was representing Klett Development. The steer weighed 1,430 pounds.

Cole Bailey of South Haven brought in the grand champion dairy steer and sold the 1,674-pounder for $2.50 per pound ($4,185) to Pakkers Inc. Levi Hostetler of Lawrence sold the 1,424-pound reserve champion dairy steer for $2.10 per pound to Burnell Farms. Another 21 cents per pound was added on by Nutrien Ag Solutions, bringing the total to $3,289.44.

Exhibiting the grand champion beef carcass, Drew Hamre of Lawrence received $2.35 per pound ($2,730.70) from Tammy and Keith Dykstra. Cayley Hostetler of Lawrence sold the reserve champion beef carcass for $2.60 per pound ($2,818.40) to Paw Paw Village Drug Store.

Molly Kubiszak of Gobles was a winner in two species, showing the supreme champion lamb and the grand champion lightweight dairy feeder calf. Kubiszak's 152-pound lamb fetched $3.75 per pound ($1,976), courtesy of Keystone Cooperative, with 66 cents per pound ($100.32) added on by GreenStone Farm Credit Services. Her 394-pound lightweight feeder calf brought $5 per pound ($1,970) from Wheatfield Grain. Kubiszak also won the junior showmanship sweepstakes for the second year in a row.

Another double winner was Freddie Craig of Paw Paw. He exhibited the grand champion barrow and grand champion ewe. The 272-pound barrow was auctioned for $4.25 per pound ($1,156) to LaRue Auto Sales. It was resold for $4.25 per pound ($1,156) to Goodlyfe Farms and Sapphire Farms. The 146-pound ewe brought $10.50 per pound ($1,533) from friends and family. The resale generated another 68 cents per pound ($99.38) from GreenStone Farm Credit Services.

Siblings Brock and Karleigh Stamp of Decatur finished first and second in the gilt show, with Brock exhibiting the grand champion and Karleigh showing the reserve. On sale day, Brock and Karleigh had the high bid on Brock's 266-pound grand champion, paying $3.75 per pound ($997). Karleigh received $4 per pound ($912) for the 228-pound reserve champion from her grandfather, Matthew Moser.

Brock also exhibited the 274-pound reserve champion barrow, earning $3.50 per pound ($959) from Matthew Moser.

On carcass sales, Gavin Vyverman of Mattawan sold the grand champion for $4.25 per pound ($1,113.50) to 48th Street Metal Works. The reserve champion carcass belonging to Sadie Hunt brought $3.50 per pound ($924) from Dave's Concrete Products.

Returning to the auction ring, Drew Hamre sold his 116-pound reserve champion ewe for $4 per pound ($464) to Jim Vander Kolk. His brother, Owen, sold the reserve champion wether for $4 per pound ($616) to Pickle Street Veterinary Services. The resale generated another 65 cents per pound ($100.10) to Tammy and Keith Dykstra.

Cale Hostetler of Lawrence exhibited the grand champion lamb carcass. He earned $3.50 per pound ($441) from Bloomingdale Communications. Owen Hamre was next with the reserve champion carcass, which brought $3 per pound ($276) from Burnips Equipment.

In the beef feeder auction, Butler did not sell her grand champion calf, but she did part ways with the reserve champion. She sold the 514-pounder for $4.35 per pound ($2,235.90) to Darren Bailey of M&W Seed. The resale brought another 2 cents per pound ($10.28) from Sokolowski Collision Center.

In other sales, Ally O'Brien of Decatur sold the grand champion heavyweight dairy feeder calf for $5 per pound ($2,560) to Jarred Dykstra and Bridgett Bush. Dustin Sieber earned $2.50 per pound ($1,265) for the reserve champion heavyweight dairy calf. Ryland Hutchins sold the reserve champion lightweight dairy feeder calf for $2.50 per pound ($900) to Roy Farms.

This year's gallon of milk sale was slightly different, due to the statewide ban on exhibiting lactating dairy females due to bird flu. So, this year's gallon of milk represented the grand champion Holstein heifer, not a cow. This year's grand champion heifer was exhibited by Wyatt Buskirk of Paw Paw. Donations amounted to $7,376.06 and will be used to support the Van Buren County Fair's dairy department.

In the small animal auction, Anthony Koshar sold the grand champion turkeys for $250 to Southwestern Michigan Feed. Reserve champion exhibitor Isaac King sold her turkeys for $200 to Brooke Wilcox.

In ducks, Porsha Tomsa received $210 for the grand champion pair. The ducks were resold for $75 to Janet Tripp. The same buyers purchased the reserve champion ducks shown by Morgan Tomsa. She received $225 on the first sale and $75 on the resale.

In chickens, Jonathan Bilyk auctioned off his grand champion broilers for $360 to Quality Cylinder Services LLC. Christopher Bilyk sold his reserve champion chickens for $300 to the same buyer.

Emilyrose Goodrode sold the grand champion eggs for $125 to Grasshopper Farms. Addison Vaughn sold the reserve champion eggs for $200 to Shoemaker's Garage.

In rabbits, Elizabeth Teter sold the grand champion pen for $330 to Shoemaker's Garage. Leah Ostund sold the reserve champion rabbits for $210 to Chisholm Farm, and $210 on the resale to Hunt's Hillside Vineyards.

Weston DeBoer showed the grand champion dairy market goat, earning $375 from Santa. Amelia DeBoer sold the reserve champion goats for $375 to Santa, and $276 on the resale to Michigan Mixed Animal Veterinary.

Owen Hamre had the grand champion non-dairy market goat and earned $596.25 from Pursley Construction. Reserve champion exhibitor Frederick Craig sold his non-dairy goats for $371 to Turner Farms.

Kyle Fritz received $200 from Field Heating and Plumbing for milk from the senior milking doe.

Zayden Taylor sold the grand champion goat carcass for $300 to Elizabeth Racop. Lillian Burke sold the reserve champion goat carcass for $300 to Jennifer DeVries.

Auction subtotals, by species, were: 152 hogs, $138,298.77; 36 beef steers, $130,078.68; 41 dairy feeder calves, $52,193.43; 28 sheep, $33,145.46; 16 beef feeder calves, $28,325.02; and 1 gallon of milk, $7,276. Other subtotals: goats, $16,120.20; chickens, $9,000; rabbits, $7,785; turkeys, $6,730; ducks, $1,320; eggs, $325; and goat milk, $200.

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