Bult Siblings Lead Lake County Auction
Published: Friday, August 25, 2023
Lake County 4-H'ers earned $182,986.25 during the annual 4-H auction on Aug. 12 in Crown Point.
The beef auction was dominated by members of the Bult family. Dakota Bult of Hebron sold the grand champion steer, a 1,235-pound Chianina, for $4.25 per pound ($5,248.75) to TLC Plumbing in Griffith. Next was Mackenzie Bult and the reserve champion steer, which weighed 1,330 pounds. She received $2.50 per pound ($3,325) from Bill's Produce of Griffith.
Another sibling, Ethon Bult, exhibited the grand champion beef carcass. He received $3 per pound ($3,840) for the 1,280-pound carcass from K&D Bennett Farms and Beck's Hybrids of Knox.
The top-selling animal in the entire auction was the reserve champion beef carcass belonging to Blake Marshall of Crown Point. The 1,400-pound carcass brought $4 per pound ($5,600) from Superior Engine Services of Crown Point.
In swine, Austin Kalvaitis of Lowell cashed in with two big sales. First, he sold his 287-pound grand champion barrow for an impressive $28 per pound ($8,036) to a support group (see list at end of story). Second, he auctioned off his reserve champion barrow, weighing 268 pounds, for $3.50 per pound ($938) to Cedar Creek Twp. in Lowell.
For the 272-pound grand champion market gilt, Hayden Hein of Crown Point received $5 per pound ($1,360) from K&D Bennett Farms and Beck's Hybrids of Knox. Owen Nelson of Hebron sold the reserve champion gilt for $4.75 per pound ($1,415.50) to DLM Seed LLC of Lowell. The gilt weighed 298 pounds.
Dakota and Mackenzie Bult also had a strong showing in swine, as Dakota showed the grand champion breeding gilt and Mackenzie had the reserve. Dakota sold the 286-pound grand champion for $2.75 per pound ($786.50) to K&D Bennett Farms and Beck's Hybrids of Knox. Mackenzie received $3.25 per pound ($773.50) from Crown Feed & Supply of Crown Point for the 238-pound reserve champion.
Brycen Neises of Crown Point led the way in the market lamb show. During the 4-H livestock auction, he earned $18 per pound ($2,682) for his 149-pounder from the Rome family of Valparaiso. Standing second in the lamb show was the 121-pound reserve champion shown by Annalise Neal of Hebron. The lamb fetched $21 per pound ($2,541) from friends and family (see list).
Annalise returned to the ring to sell the grand champion sheep carcass, weighing 112 pounds, for $5 per pound ($560) to Hanford Packing. Her brother, Garrett Neal, sold the reserve champion carcass for $8.25 per pound ($858) to Superior Engine Services of Crown Point. The carcass weighed 104 pounds.
In meat goats, a large support group (see list) purchased the grand champion Boer goat shown by Brayden Quale of Lowell. The price was $2,200. Kaden Smith of St. John sold the reserve champion meat goat for $1,100 to a support group.
In dairy goats, Lauren Clemons of Hobart sold milk from her grand champion milking doe for $250 to AMS of Crown Point. Wilson Orange of Lowell was next with milk from his reserve champion milking doe. Ben Saylor of Hebron had the high bid at $300.
Quintin Klisiak of Lowell sold the grand champion dairy wether for $200 to Lake County Farm Bureau Inc. The reserve champion dairy wether, shown by Wilson Orange, brought $300 from Paw Haven Animal Hospital of Winter Haven, Fla.
Orange was also a winner in the poultry show. He sold the grand champion pen of turkeys for $1,400 to J&R Lock Service of Crown Point.
Also selling for $1,400 was the grand champion market chicken exhibited by Landon Rich of Cedar Lake. Leo & Sons of Cedar Lake had the high bid.
Megan White of Lowell sold a pen of heavy ducks that won reserve champion overall. White earned $500 from Gleaners Life Insurance of Lowell.
Shelby Bult of Crown Point auctioned off her reserve champion market broilers for $1,000 to Superior Engine Services.
In rabbits, Avalyn Humbert of Cedar Lake led the way with her grand champion meat pen. She sold it to Lake County Farm Bureau for $300. Alexandra Valentine of Lowell was next with the reserve champion meat pen. She received $250 from the Matt Hayden family of Lowell.
Liam Woodworth of Schneider earned $400 from the sale of his grand champion single roaster. Kasparian Insurance of Lowell had the high bid. The same buyer paid $300 for the reserve champion roaster exhibited by Jadalynn Barker of Schneider.
Lake Woodworth of Schneider sold the grand champion single fryer for $200 to New Chapter Real Estate of Lowell. Humbert returned to the ring to sell her reserve champion single fryer. Didi's Rabbitry of Crown Point purchased it for $150.
Subtotals, by species, are: swine, $79,455; beef, $57,306; sheep, $23,700; poultry, $8,300; meat goats, $6,675; rabbits, $4,300; and dairy goats/products, $3,250.
Support Groups
Austin Kalvaitis' grand champion barrow—Frank Kalvaitis, Scheeringa's Farm & Produce, Bob and Angie Jensen, Stuhlmacher Soil Service, Brian and Shannon Quale, Committee to Elect Rick Niemeyer/Rick and Connie Niemeyer, Nelson Farms, John Watts, Frank, Jeannie and Austin Kalvaitis, Kevin and Karon Lenhart
Annalise Neal's reserve champion lamb—Ashley Haman, Bob and Angie Jensen, Frank, Jeannie and Austin Kalvaitis, Hulsey Electric, John and Cindy Thomas, Ken Lewin, Lump Insurance Co. Inc., Matt Hayden family, Mike Essary
Brayden Quale's grand champion meat goat —Hoof Hearted Farms, Equine Rebalancing/Dave and Marie Troyer, Sonny's 305 Farms, the Sorenson family, Ken and Lynette DuBord, Shannon Reilly, Mike and Marcia Quale, Kevin and Christine Quale, Krank and Janine Kalvaitis, Taylor Hemp Co., Mychelle Taylor/McColly Real Estate, Kelly Crane, Greg Cole, Hubinger Landscaping, Farm Tile Services/Ryan Hefner, the Toren family, Stiener Plumbing/Josh and Christine Steiner
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