Siblings Rule at Kalamazoo Co. Fair
Published: Friday, August 20, 2021
The family name of Engel came up often at the Kalamazoo County Youth Fair 4-H livestock auction.
Josh Engel exhibited the grand champion beef steer and the champion barrow in the swine show, while his younger sister, Emma, had the champion gilt and earned top swine showman honors.
So, who has bragging rights in the Engel household?
"I beat him in showmanship, so I do," said Emma, a 10th-grader at Paw Paw High School. "I have the advantage because I'm a better showman."
On the other hand, Josh, a member of Paw Paw's junior class and backup center on the Red Wolves football team, can always say, "scoreboard."
His 1,204-pound steer sold for $2,207, or $1.75 per pound, to Tabbie Engel of Gobles, and his 292-pound barrow fetched $876 ($3 per pound). Emma's 291-pound gilt went for $873 ($3 per pound). Hall Builders purchased both pigs.
The fair was held as a show-and-go event last week at the Kalamazoo County Parks and Expo Center, so the exhibitors did not bring their animals into the sale ring during last Thursday's auction.
As for the Engels' combined success, "there is no secret," said Emma. "Hard work pays off." Josh elaborated.
"You just buy the pigs in March, put 'em in a pen, buy 'em some feed throughout the year, get 'em out every once in a while and work 'em, and that's really about it," he said. "Then you come here and show 'em, try to do your best, and sell 'em.
"The secret to having two grand champions is, just look for the best. Sometimes you don't have to spend a lot of money and sometimes you do. You have to feed 'em good food and for showmanship, you definitely have to get 'em out and work 'em a lot, so I make sure I'm always working with them."
Josh likes showing his animals as much as he does playing football.
"Just meeting people, coming out here and shaking the buyers' hands, talking to them and saying thank you is always fun," he said.
The auction, which was limited due to prior health restrictions, raised a total of $71,604.05
Emma Temple of Richland showed the fair's reserve champion beef steer, a 1,345-pounder that sold for an auction-high for all species at $5,480 ($4 per pound) to Martin Spring & Drive.
The reserve champion barrow exhibited by Nyle Sattler of East Leroy weighed in at 306 pounds and sold for $1,094.50 ($3.25 per pound) to Carleton Equipment. Andrew Dinzik of Vicksburg had the reserve champion gilt, a 254-pound animal that brought in $1,143 ($4.50 per pound) from Cagney Farms.
Brody Vosburg of Climax sold his 240-pound champion swine carcass for $845. Dane Sattler of East Leroy received $1,077.50 for his 265-pound reserve champion carcass. Carleton Equipment purchased both carcasses.
The grand champion dairy steer was shown by Abby VanDyke of Kalamazoo, who was also named the top showman for beef. Her 1,556-pound animal was purchased for $2,434 ($1.50 per pound). The reserve champion dairy steer of Johnny Hunter of Climax weighed in at 1,158 pounds and sold for $2,895 ($2.50 per pound). Carleton Equipment purchased both dairy steers.
Hunter also had the grand champion dairy steer carcass, which West Kalamazoo Dental Care bought for $2,480.50.
Chase Johnson of Edwardsburg sold his 527-pound champion beef feeder to J&K Auction Service for $969.55 ($1.65 per pound). Caleb Peck of Fulton had the champion dairy feeder, a 725-pounder purchased by the Hunter family for $1,187.50 ($1.50 per pound).
The beef auction produced sales totaling $32,916.25 on 16 lots and 28 swine lots brought in a total of $30,912.75.
In poultry, Joshua Bolhuis of Climax sold the champion roaster for $175 to Michigan Mixed Animal Veterinary Services and Brandon Shoffner of Vicksburg received $125 for the reserve from the Maple Ridge Farmer Buyers Group.
Shoffner also made $150 on his champion broiler, which was purchased by Kalsee Credit Union. Kalamazoo's Annalise Jubenville turned the reserve champion broiler to Abbi Lochmandy for $150. Jubenville also had the champion Cornish, for which Kalsee Credit Union paid $175. Shoffner's reserve champion Cornish was purchased by Maple Ridge Farm Buyers Group $175.
Twenty-one poultry lots sold for $3,750.05.
Bolhuis showed the top two turkeys. Kalsee Credit Union bought the champion tom for $175 and J&K Auction Service paid $150 for the hen.
Maycee and Joe Peck of Scotts swept top honors in rabbits. Voyce's East Leroy Elevator paid $350 for her champion roaster and $300 for her champion pen of three. His reserve roaster went for $225 and his reserve pen of three went for $250 to the Don Peck Family.
Seven rabbit lots sold for $1,850.
VanDyk represented the dairy project which received a donation of $400 from Kalsee Credit Union for a gallon of milk and add-ons of $1,025 for a total of $1,425. The proceeds will go to the dairy barn exhibitors.
Augusta's Wednesday Townsend represented the champion dozen eggs which brought in a bid of $275 from Crystal Flash Petroleum and add-ons of $150 for a total of $425 for the poultry barn.
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