LaPorte Co. Lamb Breaks Record at $10,000
Published: Friday, July 19, 2019
The LaPorte County 4-H Fair took place last week. The fair auction saw 579 animal lots with a grand total of $342,141.41. Last year, the total reached $374,426 on 613 lots.
The grand champion market lamb was exhibited by James Mitzner a 10-year 4-H'er. The lamb weighed 127 pounds and brought $10,005; a whopping $78.78 per pound and a new record for the fair. A buyers group contributed to the fund. See the end of the story for the full list of buyers.
Jacob Wood sold the grand champion lamb carcass for $700. The carcass weighed 119 pounds, bringing the price to $5.88 per pound. TP3 Farms, Daube Seed Sales and Tom Peeples Farm paid for the lamb meat.
The reserve champion lamb carcass was sold by Taylor Kleine. Annamarie and Jim Hendrickx purchased the 102-pound carcass for $350, or $3.43 per pound.
The grand champion swine barrow was exhibited by Chase Rosenbaum. The hog weighed in at 273 pounds. Cary Rosenbaum Seed Supply paid $6,400, or $23.44 per pound. The pig tied a previous record.
Emma Deutscher sold the reserve champion ultrasound gilt for $800. C&A Farms bid $3.57 per pound for the 224-pounder.
Kaleb Gorski earned grand champion for the ultrasound barrow. Phil and Vicki Hannon, and Sarah and Brandon Gorski bought the hog for $3,200. The 241-pound lot broke a record of $13.27 per pound.
The reserve champion ultrasound barrow sold for $3.10 per pound, or $800. Zachary French sold the 258-pounder to New Durham Hardware and Mobile Homes.
Alaina Jeffers exhibited the 1,739-pound grand champion dairy beef steer. Friends and family of Alaina Jeffers bid a record breaking $5,550, or $3.19 per pound.
Madison Scarborough sold the champion beef ultrasound for $4,200, or $3.24 per pound. The 1,298-pounder was purchased by friends and family of Madison Scarborough, Triple J-Mar Petroleum, Mitzner Meats LLC, Parker Farms and Fisel, Lauer and Johnson CPAs.
The grand champion beef steer and rate of gain champion was shown by Lyla Bannwart. Midwest Agri placed the winning bid on the 1,625-pound animal. Bannwart earned $4,100, or $2.52 per pound.
Samuel Klemz sold the reserve champion beef steer. LaPorte Hospital purchased the 1,340-pounder for $2,600, or $1.94 per pound.
Trevor Eggert had the reserve champion rate of gain beef steer. The steer weighed in at 1,580 and brought $3.29 per pound, or $5,200. Eggert family and friends paid for the animal.
The reserve champion dairy steer was shown by Katelyn Rudolph. Her steer weighed 1,537 pounds. A buyer group (see list) contributed to the $7,500 ($4.87 per pound) total. The steer broke an auction record.
Ben Johnson topped the dairy sale with his grand champion Holstein milk that earned him a record breaking $10,000. Supporters of Johnson paid the price. Johnson also sold the grand champion Jersey milk for $250, and the reserve champion Holstein milk for $250.
Kathryn Buckley sold the grand champion Ayrshire milk for $1,500. Friends and family purchased the milk.
Blake Kessler showed his grand champion Milking Shorthorn. Milk from the animal sold for $1,000 to 1st Source Bank, Clay Hill Ranch and Hunter Nutrition. He also sold milk from the reserve champion Milking Shorthorn for $200 to 1st Source Bank.
Michael Ekovich earned reserve champion for his Jersey. The milk sold for $1,000 to family supporters, Mary Jo DVMS, and Kinsbury Elevator/ E. Lindborg.
In the goat sale, Wesley Minich sold the senior champion goat milk for $500 to the LaPorte County 4-H buyer group.
Jaden Conrad broke a record with the champion dairy goat wether. The 29-pound animal sold for $2,200, or $75.86 by the pound. Supporters included friends of Conrad, Beacon Credit Union, New Prairie Veterinary Service and LaPorte Insurance Agency.
The reserve champion dairy wether also broke a record. Zachary Thomas sold his 57-pound goat for $1,500, or $26.31 per pound. Friends and family supported Thomas.
Hannah Nelson sold the reserve champion specialty goat wether for $2,225. Friends and family paid $30.90 per pound for the 72-pound animal.
Kaden Eiler earned rate of gain champion for the goat wether. At 74 pounds, the goat sold for $350, or $4.72 per pound to the LaPorte County 4-H buyer group.
Austin Hesters kicked off the rabbit sale with the champion roaster. The rabbit brought $400 and was purchased by Farm Bureau, Inc., and J-Romes Hoof Trimming.
The champion rabbit stewer was sold by Kamrielle Saylor for $1,225. A buyer group (see list) purchased the rabbit.
The reserve champion stewer earned Jayden Wallace-Rose $700. Rose Bros. and Sons, and 007 Rose Show Stock bought the rabbit.
The grand champion rabbit carcass was exhibited by Megan Kleine. CRG and PAG Land Co. LLC purchased the rabbit for $250.
Tye Nevills sold the reserve champion carcass for $125 to LaCrosse Merchants and friends of 4-H.
In the poultry sale, Sydney Patla sold her reserve champion commercial poultry. The animal sold for $125 to Matt and Dotty Gansemer.
Margaret Conner sold the grand champion turkey for $700 to Environmental Safety Products.
The reserve champion turkey brought $300 and was sold by Jadyn Wallace-Rose. Richard and Marilynn Livinghouse.
Abigail Stimley sold her grand champion duck for $2,400. Phils Discount Drugs and Christopher Adam Conn bought the record-breaking duck.
Kimberly Crawford sold the grand champion laying pullets to Pickett Trucking Service for $70.
Morgan Phillips sold the grand champion carcass for $200 to Gleaner Life Insurance Society.
The reserve champion carcass was sold by Garrott Ott-Large. 1st Source Bank paid $175 for the poultry.
Species subtotals include: 38 goats, $20,575; 9 dairy $15,250; 95 poultry, $18,045; 42 rabbits, $8,990; 87 sheep, $47,320; 62 beef, $127,882.36; 234 swine, $95,703.32.
There were also wood sculptures auctioned off to contribute to the 4-H scholarship fund. There were 12 lots sold for a total of $8,275.
Buyer groups:
James Mitzner: Triple J-Mar Petroleum, J-Mart BP Amoco, Charlesworth Financial Service, Vern and Sherrie Schafer, South Bend Ethanol/Derek Gross, Mark Parkman Excavating, Schafer Farms Partnership Inc., Staci and Bill Bohling, Matt and Kristin Schafer, Horizon Bank/K.Presley, 1st Source Bank/C.Mrozinski, Kingsbury Elevator/E.Lindborg, Bane Welker Equipment/E.Pointin, Jeff and Andrea Mitzner Farms, Great Grannie, Grandma Mitzner, Grandma and Grandpa Schlundt, Antie, Aunt Betty, Super Sister Janelle Mitzner, Aunt Julie and Uncle Ray, Scarborough Farms—Madison and Parker, LaPorte County Farm Bureau, Harold and Jane Parker, Bane Welker Equipment, Mitzner Meats LLC; Scarborough Excavating LLC, Mitzner Show Cattle, Scott and Michelle Livinghouse, Triple J-Mar Petroleum and Charlesworth Financial Service.
Katelyn Rudolph: Farm Bureau Insurance, Horizon Bank, Big Sister Melissa, Grandma Rudolph, Grandma and Grandpa Rosenbaum, Uncle Jeff and Aunt Jeanie, Uncle Josh and Aunt Jane, Uncle Bill and Aunt Geri, Calen and Landon Poort, Uncle Todd and Aunt Tricia, Uncle Joe and Aunt Michelle, Cousins—Jared, Kelsey, Brett, Jenni, Drake, Dax; Corey and Melissa Rosenbaum family, Sandy Ridge Boers/Justin; Steve and Ann Lestinsky family; Jim and Lori Lestinsky family; Cass Champions 4-H club; Nick and Patti Steinke Umbarger Feeds; Lane Steinke, B & A Genetics, Jeff and Angie Smoker family; Greg and Deb Smoker family; Steve Kasten Channel Hybrids; Horizon Bank; Farm Bureau, Inc; Castongia Tractor; Manchester Ag; Bane Welker; and Kingsbury Elevator.
Kamrielle Saylor: Mueller family in Honor of George Mueller, Jr, 4-H Rabbit Concession Stand, friends and family of Kamrielle Saylor, Interstate Rentals, Leon's Braka-way Leather, Rose Brothers & Sons, 007 Rose Show Stock, Triple T Concessions, Keen Lawn Mowing, 4-H Rabbit Food Stand, Hesters Log Homes and family and friends.
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