Elkhart 4-H'ers Pocket over $1.5 Million
Published: Friday, August 4, 2023
The sale of livestock and dairy products produced a record total during the Elkhart County 4-H Fair's annual 4-H auction last Friday in Goshen.
Four-H'ers earned $1,515,104.87 from the sale of 1,015 lots.
By comparison, the previous record, set just one year ago, was $1,468,495.71 on 939 lots.
"The auction is an incredible testament to the support of the 4-H kids by our local businesses," said Jennifer Irions, auction committee chairman. "It's incredible to witness, even in a challenging economy, how the business community comes out for the 4-H youths."
Many 4-H'ers sold their livestock projects for hefty prices. For example, every swine exhibitor received a minimum of $2.50 per pound for their hogs, with some 4-H'ers getting $16, $17 and even $21 per pound. Overall, swine exhibitors received an average of $7.34 per pound, Irions said. The support price was just 56 cents per pound.
Trent Lee of Goshen sold the grand champion barrow for $17.50 per pound. The barrow weighed 259 pounds and brought in $4,532.50 for Lee. Buyers included: Gallivanting Goat Farm, Burt Electric, Charlie and Kristin Roeder, Cripe Septic Inc., Doug and Nancy Thwaits, Granite Ridge Builders, Integrity Roofing, Larry and Kay Schrock, M&K Premier Life Insurance, Milt and Stacy Glick, Northern Lakes Insurances, Pro Lawn Seeding, Ryan and Amy Thwaits, Steve and Barb Christophel, Rob and Deb Stock, B&B Home Builders LLC and Fred Jessup.
In beef, the grand champion steer was exhibited by Joseph Mujica of Goshen. He sold the 1,355-pounder for $14.50 per pound ($19,647.50) to friends and family (see list at end of story). Ava Blosser of Nappanee was next with the reserve champion steer. Buyers (see list) paid $9.10 per pound ($12,694.50) for the 1,395-pound champion Charolais.
Jackson Aldrich of Three Rivers kicked off the lamb auction by selling his grand champion single market lamb. He sold the 132-pounder for $8 per pound ($1,056) to Shipshewana Auction, Larry and Kay Schrock, Kritzman Show Cattle, Turtle Top & Associates and Fred Jessup.
Kylee Sark of New Paris was next with the grand champion pair of lambs. She earned $9.84 per pound ($2,500) for the two lambs with a combined weight of 254 pounds. The buyers included: Sorg Dodge & Nissan, L&M Electric Inc., Ryan and Amy Thwaits, Linda and Larry Moorman, Kevin Graber, Kyle Rich, Doug and Nancy Thwaits, Ryan and Sarah Sark, White Veterinary Hospital and Fred Jessup.
Elizabeth Hertsel of Nappanee led the way in the grand champion dairy feeder calf show. Her 546-pound grand champion brought $16 per pound ($8,736) from friends and family (see list). Standing in the reserve champion spot was Riley Kitson, a 10-year 4-H'er from Milford. She sold her 506-pound calf for $18 per pound ($9,108) to friends and family (see list).
Bryce Weaver of Goshen was a big winner in the dairy show. He showed the grand champion Ayrshire, grand champion Guernsey and reserve champion Guernsey. He is taking the Ayrshire and grand Guernsey to the state fair, but he sold cheese from the reserve Guernsey for $4,250 to Interra Credit Union, Dairy Veterinary Management Services, Hoover Feed Service, Yoder Farm Service, Heritage Parke Title, Hoover Lumber & Coal Co., Cornerstone Ag Management, Denwood Holsteins, Beck's Hybrids, and friends and family.
Mable Post of White Pigeon showed two dairy winners, the grand champion Holstein and reserve champion Brown Swiss. She sold cheese from the Holstein for $3,500, and cheese from the Brown Swiss for $1,000, to Friends and Family of Lydia Nisen, ADM/Clinton Center Feed, Clinton Center Feed, Gardner family, Nisen family, Bob and Sharon Foust, Dan and Charlene Post, Mitch Miller, Austin and Susan Thomas, Jim and Rachel Vallance, Nancy Schultz, Millersburg Animal Clinic Inc., Josh and Jenny Gordon, Ruthann Schmitt, Marcus Troyer, Wendy and Adam Schrader, Richard and Sara Rabensteine, Lee Sewell, Elaine Acker, Sheldon and Sheila Zehr, Rosable Farm, Mike and Lois Zehr, Stacy Jancusz, Sandra and John Lapp, and Fred Jessup.
With the grand champion Brown Swiss, Oliver Nisen of Leesburg offered a box of cheese and received $3,700. His buyer group included Butt & Timmons, Dan and Kathy Seltenright, Dairy Veterinary Management Services, Kaeb Sales, ADM/Clinton Center Feed, Kirkdorffer Milk Transport LLC, Clinton Center Feed, Nisen family, Friends and Family of Lydia Nisen, Stookey family, Post family, Schoefernacker family, Tri-State Bovine Services, Ab Brown/State Farm Insurance, Josh and Jenny Gordon, Austin and Susan Thomas family and Fred Jessup.
Isaac Mast, a 10-year 4-H'er from Goshen, sold cheese from his reserve champion Holstein for $3,100 to Dr. and Mrs. Robert Zell, Sprink Guard LLC, Clinton Center Feed, Wil-man Lane Holsteins, ADM/Clinton Center Feed, Vaughn's Flying Service, family and friends, and Josh and Jenny Gordon.
Another 10-year 4-H'er, Brenden Blosser of Goshen, sold cheese from his reserve champion Ayrshire for $2,500 to Jet Technologies Inc., Innovation Fertilizer & Seed, Dairy Veterinary Management Services, Richmond's Feed Service, Ayrlyn Ayrshires, Tom Naquin's, Austin and Susan Thomas family, and friends and family.
Other dairy champions were: grand champion Jersey, Eli Horswill, Middlebury, $2,500 to Supporters of Eli Horswill (see list); grand champion Milking Shorthorn, Brady Reed, Cassopolis, $1,500 to Supporters of Brady Reed (see list); and reserve champion Milking Shorthorn, Kavion Haley, Middlebury, $2,500 (record) to Friends of Kavion Haley (see list).
Horswill also exhibited the reserve champion Jersey but did not sell.
In goats, Avery Hess of Wakarusa sold her grand champion meat goat for $9,465 to a support group (see list). Ella Branneman, a 10-year 4-H member from New Paris, earned reserve champion honors. She received $5,600 from friends and family (see list).
The grand champion dairy wether was exhibited by Kharece Barden of Elkhart. She received $1,950 from Fairland Farm/Greg and Dawn Birr, Yoder Carpets, Bob and Sheryle Barden, Jeff and Sarah Irvin, Little Duck Enterprises, Barden Heating and Cooling, Reynolds Auto Repair, Chris Barden and Fred Jessup.
Kasen Yoder of Shipshewana showed the reserve champion dairy wether and earned $3,090 from Brewton Insurance, Wana Feed Service, Infuse Salon, Wendy Griffith and Ben Linville, Darci Forrest, Kim Hesketh, Dale and Shirley Riegsecker, Taylor Jones, Vanilla Bean Creamery, Impact Marketing Group, Shipshewana RV Service Center, Linda Young, E&J Kauffman Transport LLC, Mike and Jill Jones, Tomeka Jones and MA Farms.
In poultry, Matthew Holsopple of Millersburg exhibited the grand champion production bird, a Cornish cross. He received a bid of $2,000 from KLT Realty and Fred Jessup. Ella Whickcar of Elkhart showed the reserve champion production bird, which sold for $300 to Formco Inc.
Silas Gingerich of Goshen exhibited the grand champion commercial production bird, a Pekin duck. He sold the poultry project for $300 to Hawkins Water Tech Inc. and Fred Jessup.
Alex Schlegel of Goshen sold his champion broilers for $800 to Dave and Aldine Holsopple, Dallas and Barb Schlegel, Todd Holsopple, Mike's Mower Service, New Horizons Inc., Tyler Roth, Deb Roth, Terry Diener, Dyksen and Sons Builders, Chris and Jeff Holsopple Kauffman and Fred Jessup.
Other poultry winners were: champion tom turkey, Noah Gall, Milford, $1,600 (record), to friends and family (see list); champion goose, Titus Calkins, Elkhart, $550 to Doug and Jeannine Schrock and Fred Jessup; champion hen turkey, Laura Haywood, Milford, $250 to Andy Gall family and Fred Jessup; reserve champion tom turkey, John Gall, Milford, $1,400 (record) to friends and family (see list); reserve champion duck, Claire Gall, Syracuse, $200 to Bailey's Home and Land Management; reserve champion duck, Makenna Miller, Nappanee, $775 to KLT Realty; and reserve champion turkey, Harlan Wakeland-Lehman, New Paris, $500 to Integrity Roofing.
In rabbits, Kristen Metzler of New Paris exhibited the grand champion meat pen. She sold it for $1,300 to Tom Perry and Fred Jessup. The reserve champion meat pen, shown by Nellie Martin of Elkhart, brought a record $2,500 from Heckaman Insurance, Dutch Cleaning, Brooks Egolf, Kipp Barhydt, Joe Abel, Eric Olsen, Heritage Parke Title, Patrick Industries, Doyle and Ann Stump, Michiana Showcase, Justin Moyer and Nappanee Area 4-H Boosters.
Auction subtotals, by species, were: 111 beef steers, $471,417; 200 hogs, $345,789.46; 133 dairy feeder calves, $272,082.50 (record); 131 goats, $141,795 (record); 240 poultry pens (record), $95,175 (record); 81 lambs, $88,098.75; 110 rabbit pens, $74,160 (record); and 9 milk sales, $24,850.
Support Groups
Joey Mujica Friends and Family—Jeff Beer, Beer & Slabaugh, Dave's Landscaping, Nate and Katie Mikel, Southwind Flooring, Charlene Vincent, Austin Clark family, Brock Flickinger, Jason and Brit Nine, Dale Eash, New Paris Telephone Inc., Yellow Creek Gravel/Burrell Weaver, Monte Flowers, Colin and Rusel, MA Farms, Lisa Yoder State Farm, Miller Brother's Builder, Miller Building Supply, Jeff and Cyndee Blue, Brandon and Nicole LaFollette, Bluefield Ventures LLC, RMH Insurance Group, Renee Klein, Don and Jill Lehman, Joe's Gyros, Bender Construction, Jason and Laura Mosier, Terry and DeLane Graber, Turtle Top Associates, Impact Marketing Group, Lyn Miller, Sheila Showalter Realty, Jaime Alvarez, Slabaugh Farms, First State Bank, Jeremy and Liz Gingerich, Ian Books, Justin and Dana Books, Tim Klotz, Randy Books, C. Walter Trucking, Fire in the Hole Pizza, Melissa White, Zahner Farms, Jeff and Kelly Lorenz, LGK Computers, Gutierez Bakery, Discoteca Francis, Sunrise Home Builders, Shipshewana Auction, Gary and Patti Kauffman, Nedermans, Lonnie and Lisa Weaver, Gerhid and Christy Homes, Rhonda and Doug Hochstedler, Advanced Excavating, Rod Mullet, Marisa Schipani, Scott Dearinger, Kevin Faus, Fred Jessup
Ava Blosser's Reserve Grand Steer Support Group—Dan and Elaina Barfell, Kyle and Jackllyn Pateros, Joe and Amanda Mehl, Rick and Deb Mishler, Blake and Kelsey Taylor, Craig and Missy Foor, Homestead Painting, Shari Weber, New Paris Telephone, Advanced Excavating, Clark Family Farm, Austin Sanders, Mary Ann Lienhart-Cross, Joe's Gyros, Pam and Ryan VanderWey, Tim Graber, Dough Thwaits, Ryan Thwaits, Form Co., Fred Jessup, Shelly Steury, Millmark, Nick and Natalie Abel, Rocco and Billie Rigsby, Austin Clark family, Jill and Brandi Henderson, C.L.G. Forever, Essenhaus, Kritzman Show Cattle, Sharon Wogoman, Schwartz Electric, R. Yoder Construction, Monte Flowers family, Derek and Taylor Thwaits, Elkhart County Gravel, Middlebury Electric, Shayne and Karen LaCounte, Tony and Betsy York, Rick and Jane Abel, Steven and Kristina Clark, Chard and Christine Ramer, Kevin and Kim Branham, Land & Boundry, Jason and Britt Nine family, Phil and Mindy Lechlitner, Jack and Shelly Lengacher, Red Barn Realty, Doug and Carla Yoder, Zac and Brittney Lechlitner, Bud and Vicki Etsinger, Nick and Renee Klein, Todd and Karen Hollingsworth, Sam and Jenni Barfell, Phil and Linda Lewis, Jean Yerger, Marlys Prough
Elizabeth Hertsel Friends and Family—Neff's Painting, Dan and Gail Hertsel, Bud and Vickie Etsinger, Elaine Egging, Integra Ag, Jeff and Corinne Hertsel, ADM/Clinton Center Feed, Bob and Helen Mesko, Stumptown Cattle Co., Tim Klotz, Justin and Leslie Lentz, Mel and Jill Shields, Richard and Tonya Cline, Cory and Grace Martin, Tim and Angie Woods, Jeff and Beth Fervida, Interra Credit Union, Brett Whitehead family, Rudy Glingle, Chris Diamond, Miller's Orchard, Shane and Beka McKerchie, Mary Dale/Coldwell Banker, Howard and Jean Cross, Scot Knafel, Micah and Rachel Yoder, Jon James, Joe's Gyros, Dan and Kayla Schmucker, Larry Kammerer, Phil Hahn and Associates, Nick and Stephanie Brown, Rick and Nancy Audas, Jill and Brandi Henderson, Jody and Tara Lengacher, Lar-Lee Farms, Brad and Amy Mestach, Fred Jessup
Friends and Family of Riley Kitson—Interra Credit Union, Councilman Adam Bujalski, Mike and Stacy Glick, Tim Klotz, The Kingwood Group Inc., Schwartz Electric Inc., Jeff and Brandi Kitson family, Nick and Stephanie Brown, Tory and Ashley Vanderwey family, Doyle and Ann Stump, Constant Transport, Eric Miller, Matthew and Priscilla Johnson, Garrett and Keri Eby, First Federal Savings Bank, Collins Lawn Maintenance, Jill and Brandi Henderson, Thompson-Lengacher-Yoder Funeral Homes, Marlys Prough, Topping Dental Group, Amanda and Robby Kelly family, New Paris Telephone, Grandpa Bob and Grandma Judy Kitson, Kirkdorffer Milk Transport LLC, Brent and Toni Warren, Brett Whitehead family, Phil Hahn & Associates, Kuhn Medical Clinic, Rick and Donna Persing, Joe's Gyros, Dr. and Mrs. Robert Zell, Richmond's Feed Service, Kevin and Shelly Newcomer family, Jon and Brenda Gawthrop family, Doug, Bonnie and Chad Kirkdorffer, Millmark Enterprises, Ken Metzler, Lydell and Karmen Troyer, Henschen Oil Inc., Stumptown Cattle Co., Fairland Farm/Greg and Dawn Birr
Supporters of Eli Horswill—Dairy Veterinary Management Services, Phil and Melissa Dowty, Irrigation Solutions LLC, Josh and Jenny Gordon, Randy Yoder, GreenMark Equipment, ADM/Clinton Center Feed, Bartel & Co., Hochstetler Grain, Hoover Feeds, Jesse and Chelsea Ramer, Helena of Goshen, Innovation Seeds, Post family, Nisen family, Fred Jessup
Supporters of Brady Reed—ADM/Clinton Center Feed, Jason/Clenyce Bentzer, King Dental Group, Chris Reed/Judy Roscoe, John Boetcher Sewer & Excavating, Dairy Veterinary Management Services, Kronk Farms, Fred Jessup
Friends of Kavion Haley—Edd's Supplies Inc., ADM/Clinton Center Feed, Michigan Milk Producers Assn., Dairy Veterinary Management Services, Kaeb Sales Inc., Taylor Trucking, Master Steel Roofing, Agteck Solutions, Post family, Leann Acres
Friends of Avery Hess—Shipshewana RV Service Center, Clunette Elevator, J&N Stone, Jack and Nadine Lengacher, Kraig and Nicki Ressler family, R Yoder Construction, Lechlitner Kids, Teresa Hess and Brandon Laskowsk families, Ryan and Amy Thwaits, Doug and Nancy Thwaits, Kritzman Show Cattle, Topping Dental Group, Agri Flite Services, Thompson-Lengacher-Yoder Funeral Homes, Jody and Tara Lengacher, Joan Siebert, New Paris Telephone Inc., Miles and Amanda Kritzman, Jeff and Gretchen Lund, Yoder, Ainlay, Ulmer & Buckingham, Millmark Enterprises, Turtle Top & Associates, Glen's Tire, Brock Flickinger/Northwestern Mutual, Curt and Shelley Flickinger, Drew and Nicole Minnich, Nappanee Family Eye Care, Wakarusa Chamber of Commerce, First Federal Savings Bank, The Garage Coffee Shop, Advance Excavating, Interra Credit Union, Jeff Hartzell family, Megan and Jody Neer, Nelson's, Edward Jones Investments, Randy and Elaine Sharkey family, Hometown Hog Feed, ADM, Patrick Industries, Tim and Amy Graber, Fred Jessup
Friends and Family of Ella Branneman—Austin and April Sanders, Mark and Tammy Bontrager, Bryce and Cooper Ostrom/Ostrom Show Stock, Janet and Daryl Branneman, Jon and Brenda Gawthrop family, Missy and Tyler Bouse family, Ot and Deb Schroeder/Amanda and Robby Kelly, Doug and Nancy Thwaits, Ryan and Amy Thwaits, Bruce and Shelly Sanders, Bonnie George, Jill and Brandi Henderson, Andy Gall family, Hometown Hog Feed, Aaron and Amanda Gall, R Landscaping LLC, Tim and Missy Risser family, New Paris/Benton Boosters, Abigail and Austin Gall, Brian Clayton, Dustin and Diane Lockwood, J.T. Branneman family, Ken and Denae Mulzer family, Fire N The Hole, Ella and Trey Branneman, Brian and Gina Willard family
Friends and Family of John and Noah Gall—Andy Gall family, Matt and Lanette Kritzman, Lydell and Karmen Troyer, Dustin and Diane Lockwood, Brian and Renee Campbell, Mark and Denise Grady, Hummel Group Inc., Interra Credit Union, Brandon and Patricia Gall, Turtle Top & Associates, Fred Jessup
Return to Top of Page