In what is likely an all-time record for Michiana fairs, the reserve champion barrow at the Berrien County Youth Fair last Friday sold for $109.14 per pound. However, the reason buyers paid so much isn't because the pig was more special than any other champion. It was an example of a community stepping forward to help a family in need.
The barrow's owner, 5-year-old Luke Totzke of Baroda, has an inoperable brain tumor. Diagnosed in March, he is now being treated with chemotherapy. His father, Brian, said the tumor is shrinking in size, but Luke is weak and a little unsteady.
Brian said the doctors at first were hesitant to allow Luke to show hogs at the fair. However, Brian said his son, who is a first-time exhibitor, "really wanted to show hogs."
He competed in swine showmanship and market classes with help from a family friend, who was by his side in the show ring. Luke did very well, showing the reserve champion bar-row.
"He really enjoyed it and had a lot of fun with it," Brian said.
During last Friday's large animal sale in Berrien Springs, the community rallied behind the Totzkes in a big way. The final bid on Luke's 263-pound barrow settled at $109.14 per pound and established what everyone believes is new high water mark for hog prices at county fairs in Michiana (the Elkhart County Fair record for hogs is $54 per pound; the previous record in Berrien County was $58 per pound). A syndicate consisting of 68 individuals and businesses (see list at end of story) raised $28,705 to buy the animal.
Brian said he was told before the auction that there was an effort under-way to raise money for Luke's barrow. However, he said he was surprised by the final tally.
"My wife (Shaya) and I are overwhelmed by the support and generosity by every-one," Brian said.
He added that the money will be deposited into a medical account for Luke.
"I'm proud of my son," Brian said.
Luke was one of three youths who benefited from extreme generosity during last Friday's large animal sale. In addition to Totzke, siblings Matthew and Katelyn Koebel of Berrien Springs also sold hogs for impressive amounts. Together, the three youths sold three swine animals for a combined $75,205.
Before Luke's turn in the ring, eyebrows were raised when Matthew Koebel sold his 270-pound grand champion market hog and champion barrow for $95 per pound, an apparent Michiana record at that time. Four buyers—Maat Produce of Zeeland, GreenMark Equipment, Georgia Crate and Basket Co. and SMP Marketing of Eau Claire – raised $25,650.
Koebel, 17, will be a junior at Lakeshore High School this year.
After Matthew, Katelyn Koebel entered the ring with her reserve champion market hog, a gilt. The 278-pounder fetched $75 per pound, or $20,850. The support group included SMP Marketing, Maat Produce, Georgia Crate and Basket Co., First Farmers Bank and Trust of Converse, Ind., CropWatch Inc. of Goshen, GreenMark Equipment, Crop Production Services, Agriflight Services Inc. of Wakarusa, Helena Chemical of New Carlisle, Dwane Knuth Excavating and Nitz Design Builders.
Katelyn, 19, is a sophomore at Southwestern Michigan College studying accounting.
While the prices received by both Matthew and Katelyn were remarkable, Matthew noted that both he and his sister planned to give back by purchasing other livestock at the fair. During last Friday's auction, together, they purchased 14 pigs and were involved, along with their parents' Sunnybrooke Growers farming operation, in the purchase of Totzke's reserve champion barrow. The Koebel siblings also bought some turkeys and chickens in last Thursday's small animal auction.
Overall, Berrien County youths sold 844 lots and earned $505,434.72 from the two-day livestock sale. That compares favorably with last year's effort of $497,634.75, which did not include any poultry sales and featured just 621 lots. The 2014 auction, with 868 lots, raised $519,075 in receipts.
In the sheep auction, Trent and Drew George of Niles sold the top two market lambs. Trent's 147-pound grand champion brought $12 per pound ($1,764) from Bittner Jennings Attorneys, Wolverine Electrical Contracting, Matt Warda Hay Sales, Shipshewana Livestock Auction, Dr. Larry Smith of LaPorte, Tyler's Automotive, Grandma and Grandpa Durm, and 1st Source Bank of St. Joseph.
Drew's 156-pound reserve champion lamb sold for $9 per pound ($1,404) to Tyler's Automotive, Wolverine Electrical Contracting, Grandma and Grandpa Durm, Matt Warda Hay Sales and Shipshewana Livestock Auction.
Julian Means-Flewellen of Niles sold the champion ewe for $6 per pound ($810) to M.E.T. Farms of Niles, Grandma and Grandpa Durm, and Southwestern Michigan Buttery. Next was Ryan Murphy of Niles and his reserve champion ewe. It brought $5 per pound ($600) from M.E.T. Farms, Grandpa and Grandma Tharp, J.D.'s Truck Stop, Grandma and Grandpa Durm, and Wolverine Electrical Contracting.
In beef, Megan Brunke of Eau Claire led the way by selling her grand champion steer for $3.75 per pound ($5,081.25) to 21 buyers (see list). Trent George returned to the ring to sell his reserve champion steer for $3.25 per pound ($4,355) to George Brothers Show Lambs, Grandma and Grandpa Durm, Grandpa and Grandma George, Jeffrey George and Tim George, Bruce Barwick Builders, GreenMark Equipment, GreenStone Farm Credit Services, Shannon's Daycare, Wolverine Electrical Contracting, KCK Auto Service and Ned Totzke.
In the swine sale, Drew George sold the 288-pound reserve champion gilt for $5.50 per pound ($1,584) to Grandma and Grandpa Durm, Wolverine Electrical Contracting, Fifth Third Bank, Country Heritage Credit Union, Caroll Ott Construction and Michiana Agra.
The champi-on swine carcass was exhibited by Ty Daniel of Galien. He received $7 per pound ($1,736) from John and Carol Braje, Grandma Braje, Dale and Deanna Robson, Dale Seyfred/Pioneer Seed, Heritage Farms/Ned Totzke, Murdock's Glass, and Brian and Lori Payne.
Julia Lohraff of Galien sold the reserve champion carcass for $4.50 per pound ($1,057.50) to Chemical Bank, Dale and Deanna Robson, and herself.
In the dairy sale, Andrew Vigansky of Stevensville earned $5,105 from a gallon of milk from his grand champion Holstein.
Madalyn Reneberg of Berrien Center earned a bid of $750 for milk from her champion doe. The buyer was Marge Davis.
Jordan Williams of Galien exhibited the grand champion Boer goat and received $500 from Seiferts Farm Supply and Kal-mbach Feeds, and the Jim Howell family. Korrina Lentsch of Buchanan sold the reserve champion Boer goat for $325 to B.E.P. Farms, Indiana Arms and Ammo, and Koinonia Pony Farm.
Jonathan Reneberg's grand champion dairy market goat brought $350 from Southwestern Michigan Col-lege, Ty's Automotive and Family Farm and Home. Jonathan is from Berrien Center. Faith White of Niles sold the reserve champion dairy market goat for $275 to GreenStone Farm Credit Ser-vices.
In the small animal auction, Celina Klimkiewicz teamed up with Sunnybrooke Growers on the purchase of his grand champion turkey. It sold for $250. Lane Herrman sold the reserve cham-pion turkey for $350 to Uncle Dale, Aunt Tara, Grandma Kathy, Grandma Sandy Baker, Maya Schuhknecht, Nana and Papa, Gardiners, Grandma and Grandpa Herrman, Chase family/Shawn Herrman, Country Heritage Credit Union, Dal-Den Farm, Dale Seyfred/Pioneer Seed and Robert Brunke Plumbing.
Sophie Bachman's reserve champion tom turkey brought $150 from AEP Cook Nuclear Plant. Lylah Baker's reserve champion hen fetched $425 from Baker's Back Achers, Tacy Brothers Excavating, Baker and Sons Small Engine Repair, Bake's Lawn Service, Steven and Haleigh Kiser, Weinberg Farms, Uncle Jerry and Aunt Jan, and Rural King of Niles.
In chickens, Nikki Smith led the way with her grand champion market birds. She re-ceived $600 from Eagle Technologies. Faith Carson sold the reserve champion chickens for $275 to Ru-ral King.
Laura Hall earned $800 from the sale of her champion fryers. The buyers included Grandpa and Grandma Davis, Family Farm and Home, Uncle Dave and Aunt Nikki, Froehlich's Fin-est Fruits and Vegetables, Heritage Farms, the Pletcher family, R Barefoot Ares, Michael and Ramona Balos family, Jack and Shelly Delancey famiy, Grandpa and Grandma Hall, Tony and Elaine McKee fami-ly, Grandpa's Legacy, Bill and Tammy Zebell, and Udderly Natural Goat Milk Soap.
Jordan Gibbs sold the reserve champion fryers for $200 to Pri Mar Petroleum.
In rabbits, Isabella Carr sold her grand champion single market rabbit for $700 to Nick Totzke Farms. Coy Weinberg was next with his reserve champion rabbit, which brought $500 from Weinberg Farms, Country Heritage Credit Union, Bake's Lawn Service, Baker and Sons Small Engine Repair, Hardings Market and Seiferts Farm Supply.
Alyvia Baker exhibited the grand champion pen of market rabbits. Six buyers, including Weinberg Farms, Al's Tackle Box, Country Heritage Credit Union, Ron and Margaret Cowles, Bake's Lawn Service, and Baker and Sons Small Engine Repair, offered the winning bid of $500.
The reserve champion pen of rabbits was shown by Alexis Street. She received $250 from Rural King.
Swine led the way in receipts, with 226 lots generating $272,241. Forty-six beef steers sold for $102,504. Other subtotals include: 232 rabbits, $36,345; 43 sheep, $28,023.75; 136 poultry, $27,100; 83 goats, $20,930; 76 turkeys, $12,435; 1 dairy milk, $5,105; and 1 goat milk, $750.
Support Groups
Reserve Champion Barrow—Ned Totzke; Stark Farms-Katie Stark; Schultz's Twin Oaks LLC, Dan Schultz; Shuler Farms-Bill Shuler; Mike and Kim Schmaltz family; Ed and Linda Brunke; Melinda and Mike Logan; Chad and Liz Hettig, Ernie Klug, Scott and Lisa Fleisher, Jim and Amy Hemphill, Jim Vonk, GL Wasko & Sons; Bob Mischke Farms; Dean and Marilyn Schmaltz; Jerry and Trish Vigansky; Jasper Farms-Mike, Jeanne and James Jasper; Dale Seyfred and Larry Priest-Pioneer Seed; PSY Farms-Roy Paturalski; Whirlpool Corp.-Todd Rainey; Schmaltz Farms and Beck's Hybrids-Randy Schmaltz; Seifert's Trucking & Excavating-Ken Seifert Jr.; Dargus Ag LLC-Brian and Kelly Dargus; State Rep. Dave Pagel; Devries Farms-Robert Devries; Todd, Noreen, Alex and Austin Soos; Greenmark Eqpt.-Ken Klug; Klug Farms LLC-Ken and Karen Klug; Dale, Lena and Kevin Young; Commissioner Teri Sue Freehling; Pat, Teri, Marissa and Natalie Freehling; Scott and Beth Klug; Malayna, Mya, Beth and Scott Klug; George Bros. Show Lambs-Trent, Drew and Tim George; Bruce and Suellen Foster; Zak Kretchman-Agrigold Seed; The Hemphill Boys-Jake, Ethan and Amy Hemphill; James Odell; Mark Kite; Alvin Ott; Greenstone Farm Credit Services-Tyson Lemon, Earl Zelmer; Lemon Creek Fruit Farm & Winery-Tyson Lemon; Steve and D'nece Coleman; Barbott Farms & Green-house-Andy Barbott; Ann Schmaltz Farms; Sunnybrooke Growers-Mark Koebel; Katelyn and Matthew Koebel, Youth Fair Exhibitors; Mike Payne; Jonathan and Jacob Payne; Crop Production Services-Nicole Ginter; Dwane Knuth Excavating; Agriflite Services Inc.-Garrett Eby; Ron and Dawn Knuth; Gavilon Grain; Robert Brunke Plumbing; Hochstetler Grain Inc.-Dave Slabaugh; Schrumpf Farms-Eric or Marilyn Schrumpf; Griffin Tool-Greg Griffin; Allen Weich; Mike and Pam Lawrick; Swartz Hereford Farm-Janet Kuhn; P&R Service of Stevensville-Nancy Poschke; Kuntz's 4-M Cattle Farm-Mike Kuntz; Grandma Braje; Oldenburg Excavating-Chad Oldenburg; Lakeview Farms-Michelle Schau; Baker's Lawn Ser-vice-Mike Baker; Chad and Brooke Baker family; Hinkelman Farms-Jon Hinkleman; Ron and Margaret Cowles; Carmen Burks Merica; Donner Farms-Bill and Barb Donner; Rick and Karen Weich.
Grand champion beef steer—Robert Brunke Plumbing, Dale Jasper Vineyards, Ott Insurance, Art Brunke, Ed and Linda Brunke, Nye's Autotech, McCarty Well Drilling, Family Farm and Home, R.A. Mort Supply Co., Carroll Ott Construction, Wesner Angus Farm, Modsanco Sani-tation, Lakeview Farms, Dal-Den Farm, Country Heritage Credit Union, McCormick Fuel Stations, Todd, Noreen, Alex and Austin Soos, Mike and Cheryl Van Agtmael, Grandpa and Grandma Mitteer, Great Grandma Gilchrist\Shannon Zeilke, Dry Creek Farm, Walnut Spring Farms/World Sales Inc.