Futa Steers Lead St. Joe 4-H Sale
Published: Friday, July 15, 2022
Sizzling prices helped lift the St. Joseph County 4-H livestock auction to a multi-year high last week in South Bend.
With 402 lots selling, last Friday's 4-H auction reached $574,184.45. That's more than $220,000 higher than the 2021 total of $354,040 with 363 lots. The 2022 total is the highest in the past seven years.
Among the big winners were the Futa siblings of New Carlisle. Bryce, a last-year 4-H'er and 2022 graduate of New Prairie High School, became just the third person in the history of the fair to show both the grand and reserve champion lottery steers. Not to be outdone were his sisters, Bridgette and Bailey, who showed the grand and reserve champion born and bred steers, respectively.
Bryce sold his 1,522-pound grand champion lottery steer for $8.65 a pound, earning $11,666.50 from GreenMark Equipment and a family support group (see list at end of story). His 1,256-pound reserve champion brought almost as much—$8.50 a pound ($10,676) from Jesswein Farms and a support group (see list).
Bridgette's grand champion born and bred steer sold to supporters (see list) for $7.16 a pound, totaling $8,796. The steer weighed 1,228 pounds. Bailey then sold her 1,290-pound reserve champion born and bred steer for $6.26 a pound ($8,069) to a support group.
Beef represented the largest segment of the auction, with 47 steers selling for $239,693.90. That equates to roughly $5,100 per steer.
In dairy beef, the 1,522-pound grand champion steer belonging to Nolan James brought an impressive $12.16 a pound. That sale generated $18,514 for the Bremen youth. Buyers included 1st Source Bank, Interra Credit Union and the No-lan James support group.
Standing second in the dairy beef sale was Caroline Bickel, also of Bremen. She sold the 1,431-pounder for $5.25 a pound, earning $7,512.75. Support came from a buyer's group.
Also selling a dairy beef winner was Dustin Ross of Mishawaka. He auctioned off his grand champion rate-of-gain steer for $3 a pound ($4,371) to Trucks R Us of Mishawaka.
Twenty-five dairy steers sold for $106,671.45.
The swine auction also saw some impressive sales. Shiloh Hershberger, a fourth-year 4-H'er from South Bend, showed her first-ever grand champion barrow earlier in the week and, thanks to a support group, cashed in last Friday with a rec-ord price of $46.25 a pound. Hershberger pocketed $12,256.25 from the sale of the 265-pound Duroc.
Next in the swine sale was Hadlee Mattison of Bremen and her reserve champion barrow. A support group paid $16.75 a pound ($4,355) for the 260-pound hog.
A total of 127 swine generated $114,686.10 for the 4-H'ers.
Ellesha Lidecker of Bremen led off the sheep auction by selling her 136-pound grand champion market lamb. A support group (see list) had the high bid at $13.60 a pound ($1,849.60). Walker Carrico of Lakeville sold the reserve champion lamb for an impressive $40 a pound ($5,720) to a support group.
Ellesha's brother, Jackson, exhibited the grand champion pair of lambs. He earned $6.20 a pound ($1,624.40) from a support group for the two lambs weighing 135 and 127 pounds, respectively.
The sheep auction saw 90 lambs move through the ring, totaling $56,050.
In goats, a new record price was paid for the grand champion Boer goat showed by Ella Haseley of Bremen. She earned $12,249 from a support group. Next was Lucas Bradshaw of New Carlisle and his re-serve champion Boer goat. He received $6,829 from GreenMark Equipment, Bradshaw Brothers and the Richard Oak-ley Memorial Scholarship Fund.
The grand champion dairy market goat was exhibited by Mekah Litteral of Mishawaka. She earned $200 from Ark Farms and McCormick Electrical Services. The reserve champion dairy market goat did not sell. The exhibitor, Lucas Wilson of South Bend, plans to show the goat at the state fair.
Also sell-ing in the goat auction was a basket of milk products from the grand champion dairy doe. Michael Doerschler of South Bend received $400 from his mother, Sara Doerschler of Fire Creek Farm.
Thirty-one goats were auctioned off, raising $30,028.
In the milk auction, Dillon Freeman of Bremen led the way by selling milk from his supreme champion dairy cow and grand champion Holstein for a record $5,500. The high bid came from a support group and Ceres Solutions. Dillon is a ninth-year 4-H'er.
His sister, Breanne, showed two dairy winners, the grand champion Ayrshire and the grand champion Brown Swiss. She sold Ayrshire milk for $1,100 to a support group. She earned another $1,150 from Ceres Solutions and other supporters for her Brown Swiss milk.
Heidi Naragon of Lakeville sold milk from her reserve champion Brown Swiss for $1,200 to a support group. Chase Turner of Bremen re-ceived $700 from supporters for his reserve champion Holstein milk.
Five milk sales totaled $9,650.
In the poultry sale, Kyliee Borton of North Liberty earned $1,100 from the sale of her grand champion broiler chickens. The broilers were purchased by a support group led by Kyliee's mother, Merita Allsop-Borton.
Timothy Cotton, also of North Liberty, sold the reserve champion broilers for $150 to Lambert Custom Uphol-stery.
Colin Hamel of South Bend exhibited the grand champion single broiler, which sold for $230 to JRK Transport Inc. Maddison Dosmann of North Liberty received $1,350 from a support group for the reserve champion broiler.
Josiah Weiss of North Liberty earned $250 from the sale of his grand champion commercial turkeys. The high bid came from Beth Allsop representing the Allsop family. Standing behind Weiss in the turkey sale was Kat-lynn Zimmerman of North Liberty. She sold the reserve champion pair for $250 to Gleaner Life Insurance Socie-ty.
Zimmerman returned to the ring to sell her grand champion Pekin ducks. She sold the pair for $225 to JEMA Academics of Mishawaka. Kyliee Borton then sold the reserve champion ducks for $950 to a support group.
For the first time in the fair's history, grand and reserve champion eggs were auctioned off. Both displays sold for $300. Alexia Kujawa of South Bend sold the grand champion eggs to Miriam Horban, and Silas Langhofer of New Carlisle sold the reserve champion eggs to Glean Life Insurance Society.
For approximately 25 years, Dave and Pat Sutton of Lowell have been purchasing livestock at the fair on behalf of Gleaner Life Insurance. Pat and her two adult children, Dan Sutton and Michelle Adams, were supporting the fair again this year, though it was with mixed emotions. Dave passed away on June 30. He was a farmer, 4-H leader and chairman of the board for Gleaner Life Insurance.
The poultry sale featured 54 lots and generated $12,645 in receipts.
In rabbits, Chloe and Seth Horban, both of South Bend, dominated the show. Chloe had three grand champion exhibits and one reserve champion placing. Seth finished with one grand champion ribbon and one reserve champion plac-ing.
Chloe's grand champion meat pen was purchased for $310 by the local Plumber and Pipefitters Un-ion #172 and by the North Liberty Lodge #266. The Knowlton family had the high bid on Seth's reserve champion meat pen. The price was $210.
Seth then sold his grand champion fryer for $220 to the Kristin Schalliol family. Chloe received $190 for the reserve champion fryer. The buyers were the Knowlton family and St. Joseph County Rabbit and Poultry Club.
Chloe parted with her grand champion roaster for $200, with the Michiana Corvette Club and 1st Brethren Church of Admore writing the check. Emma McCormick of South Bend sold the reserve champi-on roaster for $200 to the Williams Family Farm.
Finally, the Knowlton family and River Valley Rabbit Club pur-chased Chloe's grand champion stewer for $275. Weiss was next with the reserve champion stewer, which sold for $250 to Tender Care Vet Clinic of South Bend.
Twenty-three rabbit pens were auctioned, raising a total of $4,760.
Support Groups
Bryce, Bridgette and Bailey Futa Support Group—Grandpa and Grandma Houser, Kleine Farms/Kenny and Sandy Kleine, Jesswein Farms, Grandma Jesswein, Dale Jesswein, Corey, Katie, Lilly and Wyatt Jesswein, Paul and Kathy Futa, Annette Noell, Steve and Nishiu Futa, Luke and Stephanie Carter family, Mike Shindledecker, AJ and Gintare Okrezik, Tim and Katie Koziel, Matt Piotrowski and Danika Loeffler, Seedpro Solutions, Jordan and Erica Sherrill family, JA Wagner Construction, Erica and Aaron Zell, OK Miller Farm, Mey-er Veterinary Hospital, Dr. Jeff Weitzel family, G&K Concepts/Kneubuhler Show Stock, Zahls Elevator and Feed Mill/Doug and Mary Anne Millar, Ness family, Andrew and Lindsay Laidig family, Bryan and Julie Mattison family, Kurt and Rhonda Laidig, Dennis and Nancy Dolph, Bickel Brothers, Eric Doms family, Jeff Peterson Pioneer Hybrid, Scott and Michelle Livinghouse, Bartz Boys, Kasey, Kristen and Kogan Conklin, Debbie, Emily and Aaron Mrozinski, Kenny, Mary and Jacob Davis, Garland and Heather Hudson family, Stan Michalski, The JJ Crew, Kevin and Laura Paprocki, Julie and Andy Brinkhoff family, Amanda McClain family, Ryan Younggreen family, Wanda Schmeltz, Greg and Mary Sue Vio-lette, Toni and Dena Shafer, Mika and Ann Bromley, Marv and Sheryl Podemski, Mark Jasinski family, Randy and Thel-ma Reed, Brad and Kelley Bradshaw family, Anna Eaton family, Matt Lechlitner family, Dewey Dolph family, Raymond Spence Insurance/Bill Gumm Agent, Jason and Jody Minne family, GreenMark, David and Rachel Dutoi, Bartz Farms, Dustin Gill, Greg and Shawnie Sebasty family, K-Fex Inc., Joe and Kristin Jasinski family, Gamble family, Klayton and Jacquelyn Jasinski family, Hometown Show Feeds, and Jordan and Kelsey Jasinski family.
Ellesha's Grand Lamb Buyers Group—Ropp Show Lambs, Wanda Schmeltz, Cindy and Louie Stremme, Dan and Beth Pogue fami-ly, Lidecker Farms, Lidecker and sons, Grandma Kay, Jill and Brandi Henderson, Wyatt merchants, Andy Lidecker fami-ly, Hahn Genetics/Kent, Heather, Ian and Wyatt, Kleine Farms, Toni and Dena Shafer.
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