Kosciusko's Beer Siblings Dominate the Dairy, Hog Shows
Published: Friday, July 21, 2023
The Kosciusko County livestock competitions were dominated by one name this year: Beer. The Milford family was responsible for taking the grand champion title in nearly half of the livestock species, including the dairy steer, dairy feeder calf, hogs and goats.
Out of these, 10-year member Jared Beer finished his 4-H career with the grand champion barrow and reserve champion dairy steer and market goat. His sister, Jenna, showed the grand champion dairy steer and the reserve champion barrow. Jace Beer exhibited the grand champion goat and the grand champion dairy feeder steer. Only the hogs sold.
Twelve lots of grand and reserve champions sold in Warsaw last Friday morning during the Sale of Champions. Jared Beer sold his grand champion barrow to a buyer's group for $5,075. The same group bought Jenna's reserve champion for $4,250.
Isaac Irwin of Sidney exhibited the grand champion Holstein. It sold for $3,325 to a buyer's group. The grand champion Guernsey was shown by Kylie Evans of Warsaw. It brought in $1,700 from a buyer's group.
The grand champion beef steer was sold by Jaden Moneyheffer of Akron to a buyer's group for $6,600. The reserve champion did not sell.
In goats, Tanner Studebaker of Peru and Logan Schuler of Albion both showed grand champions. Studebaker sold his dairy market goat for $1,100 to his parents, Joseph and Nancy Studebaker. Schuler received $2,000 from buyers for his champion milking goat and best of show dairy goat doe.
Halfway through the auction, Everett Fussle, the great-great grandson of Everrett Tom, won the bid for the 4-H queen's kiss. A total of $2,265 was donated to Heart of 4-H, 4-H queen Reese Rowland's charity of choice.
A highlight of the morning was the round of bidders that fought for the 4-H king's flamingo blazer. After receiving an initial silence for his kiss, Charlie Krull pulled out the suit to auction off instead. What followed was a theatrical bidding performance by community members, including the Kosciusko County sheriff, 4-H educator Andrew Ferrel, Krull's father and grandparents among others.
In the end, his grandfather, Hubert Krull, reasoned that the tradition of the kiss must be honored and offered $1,064.81 for the suit and kiss, which was planted on the cheek of his grandmother, Beth Krull.
Back to the livestock sale, the grand champion market chicken earned Wyatt LeCount of Leesburg $900 from two bidders. Shayleen Crites of North Webster sold her grand champion turkey for $1,285.
Kaleb Kline of Claypool received $2,100 for his grand champion meat pen rabbits.
A total of $460,580 was brought in by 290 lots. This is down from last year's $485,840 from 284 lots, however, the bidding window remained open past press time and bids were still coming in. The sale of champions totaled $31,755.
A breakdown of the total by species is not available because the Kosciusko County auction is a premium sale, which rewards the 4-H member without requiring them to sell their animal.
Grand champions not selling include the ewe, dairy calf feeder steer, diary steer, heifer, market lamb, specialty market goat, specialty senior doe, specialty junior doe, steer, gilt and market litter. They were exhibited by: Jordyn Leininger, Jace Beer, Jenna Beer, Layne Haughee, Landon Bewley, Everly Collett, Carder Grady, Moneyheffer, Allie Ayers and Cameron Zimmerman, respectively.
A special lot was added to this year's auction. Jeff Polk auctioned the retired "Battle of the Barns" Flag, raising $3,750. Those proceeds will also be divided between area food pantries. The flag will be framed and placed in the John Anglin Memorial Show Barn. Donors include: Dennis Polk, Gabe Ayers and Jared Haughee of Clunette Elevator, Bishop Farms, Bob and Waneta Bishop, Dental Solutions, Bill and Jenny Stofer, Max Deatsman of Deatsman Grains, Greg Harden of Greg Harden Homes, and Brian and Janel Zehring.
Five 4-H'ers partnered with Hoosiers Feeding the Hungry to donate their pigs and multiple poultry 4-H'ers donated their chickens to provide meat products for families in need. A total of 660 pounds of sausage was processed, for an approximate value of $2.99 per pound, or $1,973.
Their meat product donations will be divided between 14 food pantries in Elkhart and Kosciusko counties. The 4-H'ers donating were: Beau Goshert, Anna Seewald, Morgan Himes, Haley Nelson and 10-year member Cameron Zimmerman. Also donated were 30 whole chickens to Hoosiers Feeding the Hungry. The meat from the 4-H poultry kids will feed approximately 120 people.
A total of $13,882 was donated monetarily to various charities, and meat product donations valued over $2,000. Four-H'ers took advantage of an option to give back by donating a portion of their auction check to the needy. This year, Kosciusko County 4-H'ers donated $3,400 from their own auction proceeds.
During the Battle of the Barns, 4-H'ers had one minute to collect funds for their species' livestock barn. During the race, the kids raised $4,467 to assist area pantries with expenses.
No buyer lists were available at press time due to the ongoing online bidding process.
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