Higher Prices Boost St. Joe County Sale
Published: Friday, October 1, 2021
Higher average prices, especially for swine, lifted the St. Joseph County (Mich.) 4-H livestock auction to an impressive total last Thursday in Centreville.
Four-H'ers earned $425,455.38 from the sale of 691 lots. That compares with the 2019 total of $366,113 and 888 lots.
One hundred swine animals sold for an average of $5.71 per pound, far above the $3.03 per pound average from two years ago. Higher prices were also observed in sheep ($5.96 per pound), starter calves ($3.55 per pound) and dairy steers ($2.68 per pound).
Allison Littlefield of Burr Oak led the way in the swine sale, earning $12.25 per pound ($3,479) for her 284-pound grand champion gilt. G&K Gas had the high bid.
Colin Trattles, also of Burr Oak, sold the 247-pound grand champion barrow for $3 per pound ($741) to Kalmbach Feeds, Trattles Livestock, Bontrager Feed and Wana Feed Service.
Reserve champion hogs were sold by Rachel Eggleston of Marcellus and Andrew Littlefield of Burr Oak. Eggleston received $6 per pound ($1,434) from Tim and Laura Schug, Craig and Tricia Ulsh family, Cripps Farms and Cripps Excavating for her 239-pound reserve champion gilt, and Littlefield's 258-pound reserve champion barrow was taken by nine buyers for $6 per pound ($1,548). Those buyers include: GreenMark Equipment, Rich Baker Farms LLC, Crystal Flash, Family Farm & Home (of Three Rivers and Coldwater), Advanced Farm Supply, Sturgis Bank & Trust, Littlefield Livestock and Decker Farms.
Frederick Stears of Jones sold his grand champion swine carcass for $2.75 per pound ($693) to Ron Weston of Weston Farms. Taylor Trattles of Colon earned $3 per pound ($780) from Dove Ag Services for the reserve champion swine carcass.
In the swine sale, 100 hogs brought $124,941.04.
In sheep, Lea Cardella led the way with her grand champion market ewe. The Marcellus youth sold the 133-pounder for $16 per pound ($2,128). Buyers included Tim and Laura Schug, Wilbur-Ellis, Harding's Market, W.W. Williams, Crystal Flash, Cripps Farms, Iron Circle Services LLC and Cripps Excavating.
Next was the grand champion market wether shown by Aubree Kruger of Marcellus. The 150-pound lamb brought $4 per pound ($600) from Burnips Equipment of Three Rivers.
Hayley Miller of Sturgis captured reserve champion banners in both the ewe and wether shows. Miller sold her 133-pound ewe for $6.50 per pound ($864.50) to GreenMark Equipment and Corrigan Oil, and then auctioned off her 137-pound wether for $6.50 per pound ($890.50) to Lonespruce Service Inc., Lutes Flying Service, Edd's Supplies Inc., Sturgis Bank & Trust, Lima Elevator and Sturgis Electric Motor.
The grand champion lamb carcass was exhibited by Peter Rambadt of Sturgis. He received $8 per pound ($1,040) from Pine Hollow Farm. HallieAnn Holtz of Mendon sold the reserve champion carcass for $4 per pound ($492) to Lester and Helen Quimby.
The lamb auction generated $31,411.89 from the sale of 49 lots.
Noah Noga of Leonidas sold the grand champion beef market animal, earning $2.50 per pound ($3,325) from Koviack Irrigation and Farm Services. The steer weighed $1,330 pounds.
Standing in the reserve champion spot was Colin Trattles and his 1,340-pound steer. Three buyers—Mark and Katlyn Batten, Don and Beth Preston, and Tom and Gail Miller—offered the high bid of $2.10 per pound ($2,814). Trattles' reserve champion steer was also the champion county bred and raised steer.
Miley Holden of Sturgis captured grand champion honors in the beef carcass show. Her 1,100-pound steer carcass fetched $1.60 per pound ($1,760), courtesy of Chelsea Bailey Photography. Andrew Rambadt of Sturgis received $3 per pound ($3,720) for the reserve champion beef carcass. The buyers were Bogen Concrete, Doug Hasbrouck, Sturgis Bank & Trust, Advanced Farm Supply, Swarthout Excavating, Betsy Rambadt, Schrader Real Estate & Auction, Findley Feeds, Klopfenstein Polled Herefords, Prairie Edge Farm, Boland Tire Co. and Ron Weston of Weston Farms.
Sixteen beef steers raised $40,010.97.
In dairy steers, Haven McClish of Bronson earned $2.20 per pound ($3,410) for the 1,550-pound grand champion. The high bid came from Boland Tire Co. and Squirt Irrigation.
Abby Bruystens of Leonidas sold her 1,525-pound reserve champion dairy steer for $2.60 per pound ($3,965) to JP Sanderson Insulation, Lyster Exteriors, D&D Farms/the Mumby's, Wakeshma Farms and Loker Excavating.
Six dairy steers added $21,100.52 to the total.
Kiana Gray of Mendon received $3 per pound ($1,755) for the grand champion dairy feeder steer. Black Gold Farms and RV Transport purchased the 585-pounder. Seven buyers were involved in the purchase of the reserve champion dairy feeder steer shown by Brody Smith of Sturgis. Family Farm & Home, Oakleaf Financial, Sturgis Bank & Trust, BX2 Excavating, C&S Fabrication, Black Gold Farms and Lyster Exteriors paid $4.75 per pound ($2,945) for the 620-pounder.
A total of 30 dairy feeder steers sold for $46,384.01.
In goats, Mason Trattles of Burr Oak auctioned his grand champion non-dairy market goat for $1,500 to Bontrager Feed, Kalmbach Feeds and Wana Feed Service. Anna Kulpinski of Sturgis sold the grand champion dairy market goat for $900 to Back Road Farms and Bart and Angie King.
Reserve champion goats were exhibited by Aiden Hasbrouck and Paityn Modert, both of Sturgis. Hasbrouck received $1,700 from 12 buyers for his dairy market goat. The buyers included Riverland Construction, Wana Feed Service, Culver Duck, Sturgis Bank & Trust, Kalmbach Feeds, Doug Hasbrouck, Schwartz Auctions, Ashley Mostrom, Jim Hasbrouck, Brent and Eva Beeker family, Southern Michigan Bank & Trust, and Bogen Concrete. Modert earned $2,100 from Jansen Plastering, Larry and Carolyn Nusbaum, and Bailey Farms LLC.
At $750, the grand champion carcass goat exhibited by Zak Iobe of Mendon was sold to Bordner Angus Farm and Gina's Healing Hands Day Spa. Zak's brother, Ben, was next with the reserve champion carcass goat. The animal brought $500 from Family Farm & Home of Three Rivers and Coldwater.
With 47 lots, goat sales totaled $28,851.87.
Brianna Seekman of Bronson led the way in broiler chickens. She sold her grand champion pen for $500 to the law firm of Bird, Scheske, Reed & Beemer. Brianna's brother, Drew, sold the reserve champion broiler pen for $450 to Pine Ridge Farm Services Inc.
The chicken auction saw 101 pens sold, raising a total of $42,008.48.
A dozen eggs exhibited by Alexander Stoll of Sherwood won best of show and were purchased by Meyers Automotive Service for $225.
Anna Perse Hanson of Scotts sold her grand champion turkey for $700 to the law firm of Bird, Scheske, Reed & Beemer. Keegan New of Three Rivers received $800 for his reserve champion turkey. The buyer was American Axle.
Twenty-six turkeys were auctioned, generating $14,199.94.
In rabbits, Aubree Kruger sold the grand champion pen for $700 to Century Bank & Trust, Family Farm & Home, Preferred Insurance Services, B&J Lawn Service and the law firm of Bird, Scheske, Reed & Beemer.
The high bid on the reserve champion rabbit pen, shown by Khloe Davis of Vicksburg, was $750. The rabbits were purchased by Bartholomew Heating & Cooling.
A total of 96 rabbit pens sold for $41,416.59.
In the dairy auction, 4-H'ers collected donations totaling $11,350.07. Ten percent of the proceeds are awarded to the champion senior showman, and 3 percent are kept for the 4-H dairy fund. The balance is divided among the exhibitors based on the number of animals they showed. The supreme champion cow was exhibited by Nevaeh Prichard.
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