Kalyn Heffley Leads Charge at DeKalb Co. Free Fall Fair
Published: Friday, October 15, 2021
Thanks to her experience as a 10-year 4-H'er, Kalyn Heffley feels as prepared as she'll ever be for her next step in life.
The skill and discipline she put into showing the grand champion beef steer at the DeKalb County Free Fall Fair should serve her equally well after she enlists in the military.
"Especially with cattle, like when you're clipping them or getting them fit," said Heffley, who graduated from DeKalb High School in June. "You can't have anything wrong or anything off because it will make something look different or bad.
"Attention to detail and taking responsibility, those basic things are important in the military. You have to make sure your shirt's ironed and you look presentable."
Heffley's 1,330-pound steer was all that and more at the DeKalb County 4-H livestock auction on Oct. 1. At $7,000, she received the highest total bid at the sale. Squier Pallets paid $5.26 per pound for the animal.
It was icing on wonderful, decade-in-the-making cake for Heffley, who's shown three grand champion steers during her time in 4-H.
"I feel like my whole (4-H) career was a highlight," she said. "I didn't ever have anything bad happen; it's all been totally good. I've met a lot of people and I'm blessed to have them in my life."
Heffley, the daughter of Chris and Desiree Heffley, still has to decide between the Army or the Marines, which she'll do after meeting with recruiters.
"Both of my grandpas were in the military and my mom said that when I was little it was all I talked about," Heffley said. "So, it started when I was young. I guess you could say I'm responding to a call to duty."
Buyers at the DeKalb County 4-H livestock auction responded with a total of $207,496.85, including add-ons for all species but pending more add-ons.
Including add-ons, beef brought in $25,825 on 11 steers while dairy feeders and steers added an additional $20,868,04. Forty-one swine lots went for a total of $45,463.79 and $19,935 was spent on 21 sheep. In the small animal sale, buyers paid $45,543.94 for 61 goat lots. Thirty-two poultry lots sold for a total of $18,646.06 and 31 rabbit lots took in $16,615.
The dairy sale made $9,750.
Lydia Pranger's reserve champion steer, which weighed 1,165 pounds, sold for $2.23 per pound ($2,600) to the Friends and Family of Lydia Pranger buyers' group.
In the swine show, Carlie Taylor exhibited the grand champion barrow that weighed in at 272 pounds and sold for $13.97 per pound ($3,800) to a 22-member buyers' group called Friends and Family of Carlie Taylor. Briar Munsey brought in the reserve champion barrow, which at 258 pounds sold for $1,800 ($6.98 per pound) to the Friends and Family of Briar Munsey support group.
Baylee Doster exhibited the grand champion gilt in the 4-H swine show, but gilts weren't included in the auction. The Joshua Charles Clifford Memorial Foundation awarded Taylor and Doster $500 each in memory of Clifford, a long-time 4-H member who was killed in an automobile accident in December.
Musney and Aaron Young, who showed the reserve champion gilt, received $250 from the foundation.
Ten-year 4-H'er Lillian Tucker sold the champion lightweight dairy steer, which weighed 1,320 pounds, for $3.03 per pound ($4,000) to a support group called Friends and Family Tucker. Karly Nelson showed the champion mediumweight dairy steer, a 1,360-pound specimen, that sold for $1.47 per pound ($2,000) to Steel Dynamics.
Milk products representing Logen Brand's grand champion dairy cow, champion Jersey and champion Ayrshire brought in $900 paid by Squier Pallets, which also spent $400 on Gavin Payne's reserve champion dairy cow products.
In the sheep show, Madison Haynes did not sell her grand champion lamb. Rowan Tinker's reserve champion lamb weighed 140 pounds and sold for $3.57 per pound ($500) to Bruce Scranage.
Haynes did sell an animal in the goat auction but not her grand champion meat goat, which she chose not to sell.
Doster sold the grand champion dairy wether in the goat auction for $600 to Milan Center Feed & Grain and United Producers Inc. Emily McClain exhibited the reserve champion dairy goat wether and sold it for $550 to Friends and Family of Emily McClain.
Poultry overall grand champion honors went to Remington Winebrenner who received $400 from Vision Source for her champion commercial turkey.
In the rabbit show, Kerrianne Nott presented the grand champion roaster which was purchased for $575 by Friends and Family of the Notts. Paige Fillenwarth's reserve champion stewer was purchased by Squier Pallets for $1,000.
Milan Center Feed and Grain also spent $2,100 on the Horse and Pony Club items. The annual bidding for the Pink Panther plush toy received matching bids of $2,100 each from Washler Garbage and Recycling and Steel Dynamics Inc. for a total of $4,200, smashing the previous record of $1,600. The proceeds will benefit the DeKalb County 4-H program.
The auction began with a $550 bid for the use of a comfortable cushioned chair.
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