In keeping with the weather, last Friday's Noble County 4-H livestock auction in Kendallville breezed to a grand total of $202,154.
That figure is not official yet, as fair officials were still tabulating several add-on bids that arrived after the sale concluded. As it is, the total represents a $17,559 jump from last year's effort of $184,595.
Four-H'ers, their animals, buyers and everyone in attendance endured very hot temperatures and a heat index that touched 100 degrees F for most of the day. But thanks to a brisk southerly wind, most fairgoers were able to find locations on the fairgrounds where they could cool off. To minimize the risk to the animals, auction organizers kept many of the pigs, sheep, poultry and other projects in their pens.
Beef and dairy steers, both of which sold early in the day, were an exception. Austin Weber of Allen Twp. was first in line with his grand champion beef steer. The nine-year 4-H'er earned a cool $3,000, or $2.31 per pound, for his 1,298-pounder. Bret Rodenbeck led a buyer group that included Allen Twp. 4-H, Garrett State Bank, Fillmore Equipment Inc. and Shipshewana Livestock Auction.
Katie Brumbaugh, a 10-year 4-H'er from Green Twp., brought her 1,328-pound reserve champion steer into the ring and sold it for $1,500, or $1.13 per pound. Green Twp. 4-H had the winning bid.
In dairy steers, Tyler Marker of York Twp. won the grand champion banner, as well as senior showmanship and premier showmanship. He also won with the same type of steer, a red Holstein, that his mother showed and won with during her 4-H career. Tyler did not sell his steer at the county auction, but will show it at the Indiana State Fair.
Nikolas Troyer of Green Twp. showed the reserve champion dairy steer, which brought $2,500, or $1.92. Buyers included Archbold Equipment, Rural King, Noble County Disposal, Yoder Farm Service, Zimmerman Sales, DeLaval Direct, Helena Chemical Co., Schenkel's Dairy, Topeka Livestock Auction, Farm Credit Service, Hixson Sand and Gravel, Shipshewana Livestock Auction, ADM Feeds, Harold and Joann Troyer and Dairyland Seed Co.
In swine, Cody Riecke of Swan Twp. drove his crossbred champion to the winner's circle and claimed grand champion of the barrow show. However, he chose to take the animal home so he can show it at the State Fair.
Callie Lemper of Green Twp. sold her 266-pound reserve champion barrow for $1,300, or $4.89 per pound, to Hoosier Windows and Siding, 1st Source Bank of Garrett and Alliance Agra.
In sheep, Wayne Diehm of Allen Twp. also is going to the State Fair with his grand champion wether. Reserve champion exhibitor Cody Riecke received $2,500, or $17.12 per pound from a buyer group that included Archbold Equipment, North Central Co-op, Ag Plus, Mike and Myan Earnhart families, Indiana Farm Bureau Insurance, Kirkpatrick Show Pigs, PNC Bank, Central States, Fillmore Equipment, Shipshewana Livestock Auction, Sobasky Family Show Pigs, Boehringer Ingelheim, State Rep. Matt Bell and the John Wechter family.
Loren Cunningham of Sparta Twp. sold the grand champion fleece for $700 to Dudley Parker Trucking, Turtle Top, Miller Farms and Helman Farms.
The auction saw four milk sales from champion dairy cows. Danny Resler of Green Twp. led the way with his grand champion Holstein. He earned $1,250 from Kert and Julie Resler, Duane and Betsy Stohlman, Yoder Farm Service, Albion Vet Clinic, Green Twp. 4-H and Marlin Stutzman for Congress.
Lukus Troyer of Green Twp. sold milk from his reserve champion Holstein for $1,175 to a group consisting of Dairy Club Group, Tyler and Kellie Phares, Mel and Susie Egolf, Bill and Shirley Claxton, Randy and Lori Troyer, Eagle Do It Best, PNC Bank, Burnworth-Zollars, Farmers and Merchants Bank, Yoder Farm Service, Harold Troyer, Albion New Era, Dairy Queen, Frick Lumber and Farm Credit Services.
Tyler Rawles of Noble Twp. was the winner in the Jersey show. Last Friday he sold milk from his grand champion for $1,100 to Albion Vet Clinic, Genex, Nate's Baling, Yoder Farm Services, Fred Rawles, Noble Twp. 4-H and Graft Milk Transport.
Todd Pritchard of Washington Twp. sold milk from his reserve champion Jersey for $575 to Washington Twp. 4-H supporters.
After the milk was sold, fair queen Samantha Pranger entered the ring to sell a kiss. The lip-smack generated $100 from Garrett State Bank, with the proceeds going to Swan Twp. 4-H.
Rose Bader of Jefferson Twp. was first in the dairy goat auction. She sold milk from her grand champion doe for $325 to B&J Specialty, B&J Medical, B&J International LLC and Wick-Fab. Next was Jordan Winebrenner with his milk production-first freshener, which garnered a $350 bid from Wolf Lake Feed and Farm Supply; Trier Ford, Lincoln, Mercury; Dr. Geoff Hemmick; and Winebrenner and Stringfellow families.
Nicholas Turner of Elkhart Twp. sold his grand champion dairy wether for $350 to Elkhart Twp. 4-H. Justin Berkes of Noble Twp. received $350 from Wolf Lake Feed and Farm Supply for his reserve champion dairy wether.
In meat goats, Sydney Rodenbeck of Allen Twp. earned $550 from Allen Twp. 4-H supporters for the grand champion Boer wether. Blake Rodenbeck, the reserve champion exhibitor from Allen Twp., got $400 from the same buyer.
Cole Sherman of Washington Twp. was the big winner in the rabbit show, and last Friday he sold his champion meat pen for $325 to Washington Twp. 4-H.
Katie Gephart of Green Twp. exhibited the grand champion commercial poultry and champion roasters. She sold the pen for $125 to Green Twp. 4-H.
Sierra Gonzalez of York Twp. showed the reserve champion commercial poultry and champion turkey, which she sold for $600. The buyers included Community State Bank, Frick's Service, grandparents Jim and Rita Coats, great-grandparents John and Rosalie Rosenogle, grandparents Gary and Ann Edsall, Bernie Lawson's Beauty Salon, Roland and Laura Hamilton, Denzil and Carolyn Terry, Peggy McKee, Dave and Sheryl Hunter, Fred and Linda Demske, Kevin and Sandy Libben, and Dr. Alan and Jane Roush.
Blake Rodenbeck of Allen Twp. sold the reserve champion turkey for $200 to Allen Twp. 4-H and St. James Restaurant.
The grand champion waterfowl, shown by Joplin Duck of Swan Twp., did not sell in the auction. The reserve champion waterfowl belonging to Meagan Taylor of Sparta Twp. brought $300 from Perry Twp. 4-H.
In other poultry sales, Gabriella Steele of Noble Twp. sold eggs from her champion hens for $150 to B&J Specialty, B&J Medical, B&J International LLC and Wick-Fab. Aarronn Steele, also of Noble Twp., sold his reserve champion eggs for $150 to Garrett State Bank.
Crop Production Services paid $125 for the champion pullets shown by Jacob Middleton of Jefferson Twp. Cody Steele of Noble Twp. got $125 from Community State Bank for the reserve champion pullets.
John McKinney of Orange Twp. sold his reserve champion roasters for $150 to Orange Twp. 4-H.
Lisa Gephart of Green Twp. sold the champion broilers for $125 to Green Twp. 4-H. Breck Hochstetler of Noble Twp. received $350 for his reserve champion broilers, courtesy of Noble Twp. 4-H.
Subtotals by species includes: beef steers, $25,875; dairy steers, $67,875; milk and special sales, $5,135; swine, $50,769; dairy goats, $9,025; meat goats, $7,100; sheep, $16,175; rabbits, $1,800; poultry, $15,925. There were also several add-ons and group sales that added to the total.