As with much of northern Indiana agriculture, rain was present in abundance at the 2015 Wabash County 4-H Fair. But Mother Nature saved her best for last, and on a perfect summer evening, 4-H members and buyers traded livestock for cash to the tune of $262,873.45 at last Friday evening's auction.
That total would have likely have eclipsed last year's total of $280,744, but for a significant number of typical big-ticket animals' owners opting to bypass the county auction to try their luck at the State Fair. The grand champion beef steer, shown by Cole Mize of North Manchester, the grand champion barrow and gilt, both shown by Troy Michael of North Manchester, the grand champion ewe, shown by Collin Tennant of North Manchester, and the grand champion market lamb, shown by Chaynee Tennant of North Manchester, all did not sell at this year's auction.
Narrowly topping this year's auction was 10-year member Devin Tracy of Wabash, who closed out a successful 4-H career by selling his reserve grand champion beef steer to a large buyer's group for $$6,546.60.
North Manchester's Cole Mize was a close second in dollars received, selling his reserve grand champion barrow, also to a buyer's group, for $6,528.44.
The grand champion veal calf, shown by Jonathan Gable of North Manchester, was sold to Metzger Auction and First Merchant's Bank for $1,780 ($3.28 per pound). The reserve champion veal calf, shown by Michelle Hunt of Urbana, was purchased by Pefley's Equipment for $1,520.
The grand champion dairy feeder calf was sold by Jared Gable, also of North Manchester, to Strauss Veal Feeds and First Merchant's Bank for $1,351 ($2.46 per pound). His brother, Jonathan, sold the reserve champion to The Andersons and Silver Lake Agri-Center for $1,256.80.
In beef feeder calves, neither the grand champion beef feeder calf, shown by Benjamin Snyder, nor the reserve grand champion, shown by Ty Roser, sold at auction.
In dairy, Chance Enyeart, also in his final year of 4-H, sold milk from his grand champion dairy cow, along with two sugar cream pies to Health Education LLC for $750.
In sheep, the reserve grand champion ewe was shown by Sophie Rosen of Urbana. Her animal was sold to a buyer's group for $3,165.50.
The reserve champion market lamb was shown by Cole Rosen of Urbana and was also sold to a buyer's group for $2,240.25.
Sarah Pegg of North Manchester sold some milk, along with some cookies, from her best-of-show and champion senior division milk goat to Farm Bureau Insurance, Lawson Space Alpacas, and W&W Locker for $450. The reserve champion dairy goat, shown my Jacquelynn McConnell of Roann, did not sell.
The grand champion dairy market goat was sold by Grant Dale of North Manchester to Pefley's Equipment and AgVenture-McKillip Seeds for $686.55 ($7.54 per pound). The reserve champion dairy market goat was sold by Kennedy Rosen to a buyer's group for $1,320.40.
Malia Metzger of North Manchester sold her grand champion meat goat to a large buyer's group for $5,173.90 ($69.92 per pound).
Among the rabbit champions, Trinity Johnson sold her 6 class champion meat pen of rabbits to Brian Haupert, commissioner, for $175. Teajen Johnson of Urbana sold her champion 4 class rabbit meat pen to PNC Bank for $150.
Due to the Indiana State Board of Health ban on poultry at all Indiana county fairs this year because of the national epidemic of avian flu, there was no poultry show at this year's fair. Nevertheless, 4-H poultry members were able to at least partially overcome these fowl circumstances and compete in contests designed to grow their knowledge of the poultry industry.
Through events like demonstrations, "bird bowls," illustrated talks and informative videos, members competed, just without their birds present. During the auction, members were likewise able to participate by selling their birds in absentia. Some took the opportunity to exercise their creativity, making attractive displays to carry through the auction ring, or donning "chicken hats" and more.
Support Groups
• Devin Tracy's buyer group—Edward Jones (Sandra Atkinson), North Central Co-op, Vigar Show Pigs, Bippus State Bank, Grammer Industries, Joe Eddingfield, Friermood Tires (Wabash), Brodbeck Seeds (Troy Baer, DSM), Troxel Equipment, Airgood Trucking, Jon Rosen, Law Offices of Matthew J. Mize, LLC, Andon, Pan, and Cadley Boocher, David Mann, CLU, CFP, Vogel Show Goats, Kalmbach Feeds, Wess Richie Show Cattle, Louis Dreyfus Commodities, Hill Lawn Care, State Farm Insurance (Tim Adams), Clary and Candy Eltzroth, Main View Inn, Leo and Laura Judy; BIT Computers, Levi and Melissa Allen, Brett and Morgan Williams and Jeff Mize family.
• Cole Mize's buyer group—Joe, Mary, Jim and Erica Vogel, Bippus State Bank, Greg and Andrea Michel, Friends of Cole Mize, Rider Electric, Yagel Grain Systems, Louis Dreyfus Commodities, Shepherd's Chevrolet, Tim Adams State Farm, Agro-Chem, and BIT Computers.
• Sophie Rosen's buyer group—Christian Rosen, Halderman Real Estate, Travis and Christa Schuler, Reed Seeds Dupont/Pioneer, POET Biorefining, Rosen Farms, Brodbeck Seeds (Troy Baer, DSM), First Merchant's Bank, Lowell and Claudia Rosen, Johnson Petroleum, Beacon Ag Group, Jim and Connie Rosen, and C.F.C. Distributors.
• Cole Rosen's buyer group—Rosen Farms, Brodbeck Seeds (Troy Baer, DSM), Halderman Real Estate, Pefley's Farm Equipment, Ruppel Electric, Eads & Son Bulldozing, Agro-Chem, AgVenture-McKillip Seeds, State Farm (Todd Adams), Quinn & Son Lime Spreading, C.F.C. Distributors, Lowell and Claudia Rosen, Tanner and Travis Chamberlain, Crossroads Bank, Shepherd's Chevrolet, Gaunt & Son Asphalt, and Jim and Connie Rosen.
• Kennedy Rosen's buyer's group—Halderman Real Estate, Travis and Christa Schuler, Reed Seeds Dupont/Pioneer, Rosen Farms, Brodbeck Seeds (Troy Baer, DSM), First Merchant's Bank, Shepherd's Chevrolet, Troxel Equipment, Beacon Ag Group, AgVenture-McKillip Seeds, Jim and Connie Rosen, and C.F.C. Distributors.
• Malia Metzger's buyer group—Aunt Jenny and Brent Ruckman, Kerri and Aaron Hilbers, Rainelle and Tony Shockome, Cousins Victoria, Katie, and Blake Leckrone, Funnel Cake Stand by Auction Trailer, Metz Title Company, Stine Tire, Vogel Show Goats, Beacon Credit Union, Leo and Laura Judy, Elden Stoops Law Office, The Paper Web TV, Wabash Industrial Services, Pitts Mowing Services, Wildman Business Group, Rose Lumber, Bill and Donna Thompson, Greg Houlihan and family, Bill Winger Farms, Polk Equipment, Farm Center Equipment/Gene Browning, Jay Parker and Sons, BIT Computers, The Paper—Milford, Wolfe Tax & Financial Services, Christie Penner, McKee Mortuary, Tim Pitts, Gaunt & Son Asphalt, Amelia Roser—Rex and Tiffany Reimer, Tony and Roxy Roser Family, Main View Inn, Com and Connie Rosen, Manchester Rental—Party & Tool, Gene and Sharon Michel, Doug and Amy Wilcox and family, Randall Cripe Trucking, Austin and Trent Bechtold, Metzger Family Friends, Lavon—in memory of Gene Behney, Larry Caudill Insurance, Jordan Tandy—Lawyer, Friends of Malia & 4-H, Bartley Construction, Twin Lakes Tractor, Clemmons Antiques, Tim Holmes—Pappa's Place Pizza, Boocher Services, Toyota Warsaw, Mark and Peggy Michel, Gee Gee Phyliss McGairk, Nana Kathy Metzger, Dennis Polk Equipment, Max and Nancy Chamberlain, The Inn of North Manchester, Time Out in North Manchester, Parker & Sons Equipment, Don and Wanda Denney, Marilyn and Byron Metzger, In memory of Mark Metzger, and Adam, Pam and Cadley Boocher.