8-Year-Old Shows Top Hog in Cassopolis
Published: Friday, August 9, 2024
First-year showman MaKenna Williams of Cassopolis started her 4-H career strong with the sale of her grand champion market hog for $6 a pound ($1,885 after add-ons) to Butch Bender and Community Mills at the Cass County Youth Fair in Cassopolis last Thursday. The gilt weighed in at 290 pounds.
"I show every weekend," the 8-year-old said.
She started showing at the age of seven and has learned a lot about showmanship from her mentor, Cameron Hayden, parents, and breeder. Williams also showed a barrow, which won champion light medium weight barrow and sold for $2.25 a pound.
The Cassopolis youth is the No. 1 competitor in the MIPigs showmanship program, which is a statewide program.
Jackson Whitmyer, also of Cassopolis, earned $7 a pound with the sale of his reserve champion hog. The 258-pound gilt took home a total of $1,806. Buyers included: Klett Contracting Company Inc./Chip and Kim Klett, and Mike and Tabi Pollard.
Noah DeVries and Owen Klein sold the grand and reserve champion dairy feeder steers. DeVries' grand champion brought in $3.50 a pound ($2,112.50) from buyers Berry Brook Enterprises/Joe Hassle. Klein, of Marcellus, raked in $3 a pound ($1,631) after selling to Hartford Glass Buyers Club/Mike Breisch. The feeder steers weighed 575 and 477 pounds, respectively.
A special Sale was held for the dairy club in which one gallon of milk was sold to support member activities. This year, lactating cows were not shown due to the bird flu. Instead, only non-lactating cows competed. A group of buyers (see list at end of story) paid a total of $15,540 in support for the dairy club members.
In the large animal sale, 136 hogs sold, bringing in $185,532.50; 65 dairy feeders secured $126,062; one lot of milk earned $15,540; 58 beef cattle sold for $214,610.50; and 47 lambs brought in $34,156.90.
Small animal auction
In the small animal auction, subtotals include: a dozen eggs, 650; 77 chickens, $23,275; 32 turkeys, $16,495; two geese, $800; 92 goats, $49,690; and 219 rabbits, $56,920. Together, the large and small animal auctions brought in a total of $752,506.90 in bids.
The dozen eggs brought in a total of $650 for the poultry barn. U.S. Business Systems/Tim Hulett made the purchase.
Three pairs of champions sold in chickens. Steve and Tina Tucker, Leach Farms/David Leach, and Joe and Angie Sobieski split the $2,550 for Cassopolis youth Colton Sobieski's champion heavyweight chicken. Gabriel Marina of Niles took home $300 with Hartford Glass Buyers Club/Mike Breish's purchase of his grand champion market broiler. Cal Marina, also of Niles showed the champion roaster, and walked away with $325 paid by Honor Credit Union of Dowagiac/Kiersten Hartsell.
Ella Boulanger of Cassopolis exchanged her reserve champion market heavyweight chicken for $350. C Wimberley Auto Group GMC/Chuck Wimberly made the purchase, and add-ons brought the price up to $450. Cal Marina also showed the reserve champion market broiler, which sold to Honor Credit Union of Dowagiac/Kiersten Hartsell for $200. The reserve champion roaster was auctioned off by Brynley Solloway of Cassopolis for $375 to Steve and Tina Tucker.
The grand champion tom turkey was sold by Dylan Largen of Marcellus for $1,000 to Jacob Brooks. The reserve champion was shown by Williams, who earned $475. Boulanger Farms/Brad and Erica Boulanger bought the tom.
The top hen was exhibited and sold by Cheyenne Wilson of Dowagiac. She went home with $1,150 after the birds were purchased by Home Anderson -Cass County Treasurer/Pete Anderson, Sheriff Richard Behnke, Monica McMichael, Scott Peters and Clin Roach for Sheriff/Cint Roach. Cade Parsons of Cassopolis showed the reserve champion hen, and sold it to R.B. Trucking/Rick Briney, Monica McMichael and Scott Peters for $500. Add-ons pushed his total to $625.
Cade and Joey Parsons of Cassopolis each earned $400 for their grand and reserve champion geese, respectively. Brad and Erica Boulanger/Boulanger Farms, and Diamond Lake Day Care/Lesley Steensma paid the high bid for Cade's grand champion. R.B. Trucking/Rick Briney bought the reserve champion.
In goats, Evan Kniss showed the grand champion dairy goat. He sold it for $600 to Hartford Glass Buyers Club/Mike Breisch. Adam Starr, also of Niles, went home $550 richer with the sale of his grand champion meat goat to Chad Geoit. The grand champion crossbred market goat brought in $650 in bids and a total of $950 after add-ons for exhibitor Ethan McCarthy of Cassopolis. R&R Poultry/Chad Trink, R.B. Trucking/Rick Briney and Jerry and Julie Bement family made the purchase.
Reserve champion goats include Edwardsburg youth Kylie Amesse's dairy goat, bought by Jennifer Quail for $250; Dowagiac youth Makayla Dopkowski's meat goat, bought by Kenneth Smith Inc. for $1,100; and Niles youth Bryce Hendrick's crossbred market goat, bought by B&L Buyers Group/Denver Hendrick for $1,100.
The grand champion fryer was exhibited by Breece Cooper of Cassopolis. Hartford Glass Buyers Club/Mike Breisch purchased it for $550. The reserve champion was shown by Bailey Asmus of Vandalia and bought by Midwest Soil Co./Jon Tone for $275. Jacob Edwards of Cassopolis took home $400 after selling his grand champion roaster to Hartford Glass Buyers Club/Mike Breisch, and Chase Ralson of Dowagiac earned $200 with the sale of the reserve champion roaster to Dan Wilson.
Torin Wiley of Cassopolis and Abby Tone of Marcellus showed the grand and reserve champion ducks, respectively. Your Space Storage/Chad Luthringer and Fashion Gurlz/Rebecca Luthringer bid $400 for Wiley's champion. Add-ons raised the price by $50. Midwest Soil Co./Jon Tone bought the reserve champion for $425.
Buyer Group
Dairy Project Buyer Group: We Got Milk/Randi Cady, Greenstone Farm Credit Service, Greenstone/Matt Willbrandt, Makg's Show Pigs/Nicki and Bubba Williams, Leon Brown and family, Zecharia and Jenny Pegura, Keith and Karen Hartsell, Fedore Veterinary Services/Garry Fedore, Bergman Small Animal PC, Dennis and Donna Dominiak, Elk Park Feed Store/John Baker, Koontz-Wagner Services, Hershbergers Happy Acres/Dan Hershberger, J. Lee Farms, Erick's Carpet Cleaning/Erick Dohm, Hartford Glass Buyers Club/Mike Breisch, Hillside Farms/RJ and Samantha Lee/Katie and Cody Stick, Diamond Lake Day Care/Lesley Steensma, Mike and Tabbi Pollard, Scott's Pig Roast/Scott Shugars, Gold Coast Sales/Andy Ausra, Wally Works For You/Walter West, Community Mills, Monets Photography/Monet Schrader, Soil Production Solutions/Collin and Nick Dussel, Barter Construction/Tory Barter, The Faux Blonde/BethAnn Martin-Guthrie, Kay and Jeff Klein, Matthew and Lauren Wilds, Rising Starr Farms/Adam and Ellie Starr, B&L Buyers Group/Denver Hendrick, J Corey Excavation/Jeremy Corey, Suseland Belgians/Jay and Suzy Suseland, Waldschmidt Family Farms LLC/Kevin and Elizabeth Waldschmidt, Korey and Jenni Bloss, Wayne High Farms, Robinson-Seelye Farms, Matt and Brooke Osbeck, Oakwood Farms/the Burgers, Green Hay Farms/John Green, Patty Waldschmidt, Tone's Tricking Inc./Tone family, Grabemeyer Farm, Heinhold Hog Market, Josh Westphal and family, Christopher and Rachel Reed, Chad Yordy, Ausra Equipment and Supply Co., Ed, and Kelly Reed, Seem Farm/Bob and Laura Seem, Conklin Farms, Bauer Farm/Richard Bauer, Kurt and Sara Hartsell, Blake Hartsell, Keystone Co-op/Josh High, Rutherford Rentals/Paul Rutherford, Ausra Farms/Terry Ausra, Walther Farms, Your Space Storage/Chad Luthringer, Bentzer Inc./Jason Bentzer, Isabel's Outdoor Lawncare/Karter Isabel, Jake's Country Meats, Klein Seed Sales (Pioneer)/Cade and Eva Klein, Kelsey Lake Farms/Kevin Hershberger, Quality Masonry Inc./Zach Deubner, Integra Ag/Mike Hertsel, Dennis and Jamie Peterson, Jason and Erin Hayden, Gene and Deb Deubner family, Shelly Henry/Martha Hassle/Amanda Hassle Century 21/Shelly Myers Henry, McKenzie Farms/Ryan McKenzie, Ag Revolution/Jacob Robinson, Grabemeyer Farm, Christianson Industries/Mickey Thomas, Brett and Bailey Bowman, Karter and Kaleigh Isabell, Dave and Monica Majewski, Dean and Glenda Hass, J Corey Excavation/Jeremy Corey, Maplewood Farms/Randy and Debbie Cuthbert, Southwestern Michigan College/Susan Coulston, Zach Lock, Taylor and Cole Menck, Katelyn and Jaren Waldschmidt, Sam and Jenna Rickett, Jim and Michelle Sylvester, and Edgewood Farms/Lori Whitmyer.
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