Rabbit Pen Sells for Over $10K
Published: Friday, July 26, 2024
Ten-year member Greta Minthorn of Smith Twp. raked in a record-breaking $10,775 with the sale of her grand champion rabbits at the Whitley County 4-H Fair last Thursday in Columbia City. The meat pen was purchased by the friends and family of Greta Minthorn buyer group.
Not to be outdone, another record was set by Mackenzie Miller of Columbia City. She showed the grand champion fryer in rabbits and earned a record of $2,000 from friends and family.
In total, 48 lots of rabbits sold, earning $48,530. The total for the auction was $329,845 for 350 lots, an increase from last year's auction total of $301,019, featuring 316 lots.
Other subtotals by species include: nine beef, $15,745; 65 dairy feeder calves, $56,045; 23 dairy steers, $22,565; 17 dairy cheese lots, $14,840; 55 goats, $34,510; 39 poultry lots, $24,025; 15 sheep, $15,615; 67 swine, $89,695; and 12 specialty lots, $8,275.
Also selling in rabbits were the grand champion stewer rabbit, shown by Joshua Marker, and the reserve champion stewer rabbit, sold by Reese Minthorn. Marker sold to Diamond Vue Farms, earning $750, and Minthorn gained $1,050 from Ousley's Bookkeeping and Tax Services, Jacie Worrick, Danny and Linda Worrick, and the friends and family of Reese Minthorn.
This year, several grand and reserve champion animals did not sell, but will be taken on to compete at the Indiana State Fair.
Jacobie Geiger, a 10-year member from Thorncreek Twp., showed several high-achieving animals, including the grand champion barrow, meat goat doe and beef steer, and the reserve champion market lamb.
The grand champion lamb was shown by Carter Bills of Union Twp., but it did not sell. Among the other grand champion exhibitors who did not sell were: Kylee Pettigrew of Union Twp., grand champion heifer and grand champion beginner showman; Caroline Egolf of Churubusco, grand champion dairy cow; Kohen Schipper, grand champion dairy feeder calf; and Colt Kyler, grand champion gilt.
In addition, the reserve champion gilt, the reserve champion dairy feeder steer, the reserve champion cow, the grand champion doe for dairy goats, the grand champion meat goat, the reserve champion beef steer and the reserve champion heifer did not sell.
At the auction, Braden Weirick of Richland Twp. was a top seller, auctioning off his grand champion dairy wether and his grand champion poultry broilers. The dairy wether sold to LE Aviation LLC, Schrader Real Estate and Auction, Jared and Taya Boggs and Gary Boggs family for $1,100. His broilers earned him another $1,000. Nicodemus Auctions LLC, Indian Ridge Farm, LE Aviation LLC, Ousley's Bookkeeping and Tax Services and Red Brush Nubians shared the winning bid.
Kaden Kreider of Washington Twp. walked away from the fair $1,500 richer after selling his grand champion poultry roasters to Gene Browning. His chickens also won reserve champion for the "Best in the Barn" award. Browning also bought Kreider's grand champion Nigerian Dwarf goat for $1,100.
The grand champion pullets were sold to Holly Schrader of Schrader Real Estate and Auction. Drew Lortie of Columbia Twp. was the exhibitor. Alexis Crosson of Etna-Troy Twp. showed the grand champion commercial turkey hen. It sold to Doug Western.
Levi Francis of Etna-Troy Twp. earned $325 for his grand champion born and bred dairy steer. Holly Schrader of Schrader Real Estate and Auction was the buyer.
Lillie Sickafoose of Clevland Twp. turned her reserve champion beef steer over to a group of buyers for $2,875. Buyers include Steven and Beth Ann Sickafoose, Whitley County Farm Bureau Inc., Doug and Terri Reiff, Ag Plus, Blackburn Romey, Hindbaugh Farms LLC, United Animal Health, Lake City Bank, Steve Reiff Inc. and Rider Electric.
The Pork Queen, Cate Cormany, sold a kiss for $2,000 to support the swine club and Jayden McNutt sold the Miss Whitley County queen's kiss for $1,525, which was added to the Miss Whitley County Scholarship Funds.
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