Ceaten Brubaker of Rock Creek Twp. was determined to finish his 4-H career with a purple banner in hand.
"It's been a plan all year," the 10-year member said.
From careful breeding plans to the 4-H ring, Brubaker put in hundreds of hours to ensure he snagged the highly coveted grand champion honors at the Huntington County 4-H Fair last week in Huntington. And it paid off.
For the first time in his 4-H career, Brubaker entered the auction ring on the final day of the fair as a grand champion winner.
To pile onto his success, friends and family pooled their monies to surprise Brubaker with a monumental sale that shattered the previous swine sale record and matched the all-time Huntington County 4-H livestock sale price of $10,000. This surpassed the previous swine record, set in 2024, by $2,450.
"I had no idea," he said, when asked how it felt to receive such support. "It's amazing."
In the fall, Brubaker will attend Purdue University to study agriculture.
There were 422 lots sold for 4-H members in the county with a total premium of $245,557. Total auction proceeds to 4-H members including the market value of livestock was $310,814.95. In comparison to the 2025 auction, 21 more lots sold with total auction proceeds decreasing by $6,268.73.
In beef, the grand champion dairy steer was exhibited by Mackinzie Michel of North Manchester. She took home $900 after the sale of her Red-and-White to Meyer Building. After add-ons, this total increased to $1,150. Additional supporters include Huntington County Cattleman, Truland Equipment and Williams Feed Mill.
The reserve champion did not sell. The grand and reserve champion dairy feeders and beef steers also did not sell.
Junior division 4-H dairy showmanship winner Brantley Baker of Jackson Twp. sold milk to buyers Cow Bell Photography, Johnson Patrol, Sabra, Jake and Marty, Peterson Body, Jody Sarringhaus and the Sons of American Legion Squadron 160. He earned $1,175 after add-ons.
Also winning top honors in dairy showmanship are Hazel Brown of Rock Creek Twp., intermediate showmanship champion; her sister, Wila Brown, senior showmanship champion; and Trevor Reinholt of Jackson Twp., master showmanship champion.
Wila earned a $300 bid from the Huntington County Goat Assn. Hazel took home $400 with the sale of milk to Helena AgriEnterprise. Adam and Candice Couch family raised those prices to $150 each in add-ons.
Reinholt received an impressive $3,000 from Troy Wolfe Transport for his milk products, and the Sons of American Legion Squadron 160 and Star Financial Bank combined efforts to bring that total up by $125.
The Douglas siblings of Rock Creek Twp. dominated in the dairy goat show at the Huntington County 4-H Fair. Maxwell won the grand champion title and earned $350 with the sale of his goat to Johnson and Son Trucking. Add-ons from Brad and Kathy Blinn, Adam and Melissa Jones and Indiana Farm Bureau Insurance/Adam Stroup raised that total to $607.
Addison Douglas showed the reserve champion dairy wether and took home $350, paid by Heartland REMC. Brad and Kathy Blinn pushed that total to $400.
In the poultry sale, four grand champions crossed the auction block. Reece Boxell of Clear Creek Twp. sold the grand champion broiler chicken. Rice Family Farms paid $1,000 to win the bid. After add-ons from Rooney Farms, Nate and Kayla Whitacre family and Ayers Machinery, Boxell walked away with $2,200.
Finley Schenkel of Dallas Twp. exhibited the reserve champion. It sold to Jay Rhoades, Andrews Volunteer Fire Department and Schrader Real Estate and Auction for $300.
Brailey Inks of Warren Twp. walked away $225 richer following the sale of her grand champion turkey to Schrader Real Estate and Auction. The reserve champion did not sell.
Gunnar Clanin, Rock Creek Twp., and Avery Boxell, Clear Creek Twp., showed the top two layer hens. Eggs from Clanin's non-white hen were sold to Crain Ford/Bob and Stacie Bolen and Indiana Farm Bureau Insurance for $400. Eggs from Avery Boxell's white hen brought in $1,025 from JJ's Convenience Stores, Rooney Farms and Nate and Kayla Whitacre family.
Champion meat pen exhibitor Claire Shafer of Huntington Twp. went home $975 richer following the sale of her grand champions to Ayers Machinery Co., Richardson Farms, Scott and Jami Craft family, Chad Stephan family and Freiburger & Sons Transportation LLC. The reserve champion did not sell.
Clanin returned to the auction block with the reserve champion roaster. It sold to Crossroads Pantry Convenience Stores for $225. The grand champion did not sell. Michel also returned, selling her reserve champion stewer to Heartland REMC for $375. The grand champions did not sell.
Also not selling were the reserve champion barrow and the grand and reserve champion market lambs. Briar Buckland of Rock Creek Twp. was the grand champion lamb exhibitor.
The poultry sale led the auction with 151 lots bringing in $69,625. Additional subtotals by species include: 75 swine, $69,266; 75 goats, $63,604; 14 beef, $55,728.10; 90 rabbits, $34,657; 13 sheep, $12,634.80; and four dairy lots, $5,300.