10 Years of Perseverance Pays Off
Published: Friday, July 4, 2025
The bidding was hot, and so was the weather during last Thursday's Steuben County 4-H livestock auction in Angola.
With temperatures in the 90s, the premium-only auction saw 146 lots bring $189,700. The auction is continuing to accept donations for 30 days following the auction.
The preliminary total is down slightly from last year's effort of $191,820, which had 140 lots.
Four-H'ers appeared just one time in the auction ring and earned premiums for all their 4-H projects, not just the one they brought into the ring. No animals were actually sold.
One of the big winners was Jackson Foster, who showed his first grand champion steer in his 10th and final year of 4-H. He is the son of Tyler and Sarah Foster of Fremont.
After purchasing the steer in West Virginia, he brought him home and started feeding him. Heading into fair week, he was hoping the crossbred steer would place high, though he wasn't expecting to win grand champion.
"I thought we'd have a good shot at second or third, or at least winning the class, but I didn't expect him to turn out that good," he said.
Foster, who plans to stay in the agriculture field and join a trade of some sort, earned a premium of $1,600. Supporters included: American Legion Auxiliary Post 257, Andrews and Shipe LLC, Beams Funeral Home, Bill's Professional Towing and Repair, Creager Farms, Dave Fulford, David and Vicki Foster, E&B Paving, Edon Farmers Co-op, Farmers State Bank, Fremont American Legion Post No. 257, Gard family, Gary and Kelly Shough, Jenn and Brian Betts, Lori Masters, Miller Poultry, Orland Community Elevator, Sanborn Brothers and Schmucker Farms.
Jackson's sister, Olivia, entered the ring next with her reserve champion beef steer. She earned a premium of $1,350 from American Legion Auxiliary Post 257, Andrews and Shipe LLC, Beams Funeral Home, Bill's Professional Towing and Repair, David and Vicki Foster, Edon Farmers Co-op, Farmers State Bank, Fremont American Legion Post No. 257, Gard family, Jenn and Brian Betts, Lori Masters, Miller Poultry, Orland Community Elevator, Sanborn Brothers and Schmucker Farms.
With the grand champion dairy beef steer, Shelby Kastens of Pleasant Lake earned $2,540 from a large buyer group. The list included: Advanced Coatings and Insulation, Ashley U Store It LLC, Beth Groves Farm Bureau Insurance, Blackburn Transport, Booth Farms, Carl and Linda Rapp, Doug and Katie Gaetz, Erica Gaetz/Legacy Realty, Farmers and Merchants State Bank, Farmers State Bank, Jim and Cara Maas, John M. Blackburn LLC, Kasten family, Little Munchkins Childcare, Nitty Gritty Arm Service LLC, Nucor Building Systems, Orland Community Elevator, Pranger Enterprises, Ronnie and Sherry Holiday, Stockwell Farms, Stoy Farms, Todd Reinoehl, Wagler and Associates Inc. and Wrengineering Inc.
A new category this year was dairy cross beef steers. Natalie Booth of Orland had the grand champion. She received $4,055 from Andrews and Shipe LLC, Bachelor Hoof Trimming, Bill and Bonnie Booth, Bill's Professional Towing and Repair, Blackburn Transport, Booth Farms, Choice Photography, Farm Credit Mid-America, Farmers State Bank, G&K Concepts, Griffiths Crop Agency, Kain Tool Inc., Kevin and Corinna Diehl family, Keystone Cooperative, Kidz-N-All Dairy Goats/Weible family, Millennium Concrete, Miller Poultry, Orland Community Elevator, Pranger Enterprises, Ronnie and Sherry Holiday and Wana Feed Service Inc.
In swine, Emily Severe of LaGrange exhibited the grand champion market barrow. She earned a premium of $1,155 from Andrews and Shipe LLC, Blackburn Transport, Booth Farms, Chad and Monica Severe, Everidge Motor Sales, Farmers State Bank, Hilltop Dairy LLC, Kain Tool Inc., Keystone Cooperative, Miller Poultry, Orland Community Elevator, Pranger Enterprises, Ronnie and Sherry Holiday, Shipe Spraying Service, Stockwell Farms, Stroh Farm Supply, Terry and Cyndy German, Wagler and Associates Inc. and Werner Farms.
The reserve champion barrow was shown by Maxx Martin of Angola. The high bid on his barrow was $750 from Clayton Homes/Dave Hoeffer, Farmers State Bank, Jeff and Lisa Burlingame, Jeff Martin, Jerry Grogg Inc., and Wagler and Associates Inc.
The grand champion gilt and overall reserve champion market hog was exhibited by Ariana Martin of Angola. She picked up $1,100 from Clayton Homes/Dave Hoeffer, Farmers State Bank, Jeff and Lisa Burlingame, Jeff Martin, Jerry Grogg Inc., VIP Towing, and Wagler and Associates Inc.
In feeder calves, the grand champion was shown by Dilyn Miller of Angola. He received $1,725 from Andrews and Shipe LLC, Chad and Monica Severe, Griffiths Crop Agency, Hotwire Electric, Miller's Plumbing Inc, Sevits Tree Service, Shipe Well Drilling, Steury Builders, Steury Farms, Stroh Farm Supply, and Wagler and Associates Inc.
Wyatt Jackson of Fremont exhibited the grand champion dairy cross feeder calf. He earned $1,125 from Bachelor Hoof Trimming, Best One Tire and Auto Care of Angola, CGB Consolidated Grain and Barge Co, Charlie's Farmers Market, Edon Farmers Co-op, Farm Credit Mid-America, Farmers State Bank, Garrett State Bank, Griffiths Crop Agency, Little Munchkins Childcare, Miller Poultry, Pranger Enterprises, S& S Livestock Co., Shipe Spraying Service, Speedway Redi Mix Inc., Stockwell Farms, Stroh Farm Supply, Wagler and Associates Inc, Wana Feed Service Inc., Werner Farms and Wrengineering Inc.
Konner Stockwell of Hudson was next with the reserve champion dairy cross feeder calf. He received $4,000 from 7 Custom Ag, 7 Farms, Bachelor Hoof Trimming, Blackburn Transport, Booth Farms, Carper Farm Supply, Carper Propane, Chad and Monica Severe, Dairy Veterinary Management Services, Dream Vacations by TR Travel, Farm Credit Mid-America, Genex/MJL Livestock, Growers Advantage, Heartwood Planning Group, Hilltop Dairy LLC, JLT Family Farms, Kain Tool, Inc., Kevin and Lisa Stockwell, Keystone Cooperative, Millennium Concrete, Miller Poultry, Orland Community Elevator, Pranger Enterprises, Rick and Brenda Shipe, Ronnie and Sherry Holiday, Schworm Cattle, Shipe Spraying Service, Shipe Well Drilling, Speedway Redi Mix, Inc., Stockwell Farms, Stroh Farm Supply, Truland Equipment, Wagler and Associates Inc., Werner Farms and Wrengineering Inc.
In the lamb auction, Rory Holiday of Angola sold a premium on his reserve champion lamb. He netted $1,050 from Andrews and Shipe LLC, Blackburn Transport, Chad and Monica Severe, Craig Burlingame, Everidge Motor Sales, Farmers and Merchants State Bank, Farmers State Bank, Griffiths Crop Agency, Kain Tool Inc., Keystone Cooperative, Miller Poultry, Orland Community Elevator, Pranger Enterprises, Ronnie and Sherry Holiday, Shipe Spraying Service, Stockwell Farms, Stroh Farm Supply, Terry and Cyndy German, Wagler and Associates Inc. and Werner Farms.
Dana Gardner of Angola exhibited the grand champion lamb, which did not appear in the auction.
Also not appearing was the grand champion commercial turkey shown by Lydia Rollins of Pleasant Lake.
Reed Alaura of Fremont exhibited the reserve champion commercial turkey. She earned $1,375 from Beams Funeral Home, Charles Fraley and Amanda DeRush, Concrete by Jake, Edon Farmers Co-op, Eicher Farms, Elmer Graber, Farmers State Bank, Fremont Village Foods, J Teders Carpentry LLC, K and K Tannery LLC, Keystone Cooperative, Kyle Alaura, Met-Pro Inc., Mighty Mike's Food Hut LLC, Tammi Alaura and Tony King and Truland Equipment.
In market ducks, Ransom Curey of Fremont raked in $400 from Cassie and Todd Pfafman, Edon Farmers Co-op, Farmers State Bank, First Federal Savings Bank of Angola, Fremont Village Foods, Little Munchkins Childcare, Material Partners LLC, Miller Poultry, Richard Squier, Jr., S and S Livestock Company, Stanley and Kim Michael.
Savannah Chatfield of Coldwater, Mich. was next with the reserve champion ducks. She earned $250 from Stateline Construction.
A pair of meat chickens exhibited by Briar Rodgers of Fremont earned a bid of $875, courtesy of Best One Tire and Auto Care of Angola, Cummins Farms LLC, Farmers and Merchants State Bank, Ferrier Genetics, Miller Poultry, Sevits Tree Service, Shoestring Acres Sweet Corn, Stroh Farm Supply and Wilson Sewer Line Service.
The reserve champion layer was shown by Jaela Moreno of Fremont. Three buyers, Andrews and Shipe LLC, Fremont Village Foods and Sevits Tree Service, paid a premium of $275.
Juliana Stuckey of Fremont exhibited the grand champion layer but did not bring her in the auction.
Kade Fry of Waterloo led the way in the goat show, exhibiting the grand champion dairy weather. He earned $1,100 from Ag One Agency Inc., Dal's Big Hands Big Heart, DCI&B Livestock, Edon Farmers Co-op, Jim and Cara Maas, RandN Farms, Rick and Brenda Shipe, S&S Livestock Co., Schmucker Farms, Sevits Tree Service, Shipe Well Drilling, Steury Farms, Stoy Farms, Stroh Farm Supply and Sunrise Express Inc.
Quinn Counterman of Pleasant Lake was next with the reserve champion dairy wether. He received $550 from Andrews and Shipe LLC, Bill and Bonnie Booth, Booth Farms, Farmers State Bank, Kidz-N-All Dairy Goats/Weible family, Millennium Concrete, Pfafman Brothers, Shipe Spraying Service, Speedway Redi Mix Inc., Stroh Farm Supply, The Finishing Touch, Tribute Precast and Wana Feed Service Inc.
Wyatt Cox of Butler earned a premium of $750 for his grand champion meat goat. Supporters included: Andrews and Shipe LLC, Debbie and Earl Mutzfeld, Edon Farmers Co-op, Farmers State Bank, Favourite Farms, Fremont American Legion Post No. 257, Hamilton Village Foods, Home Sweet Home, Jim and Cara Maas, Sattison family, Shipe Well Drilling, Stoy Farms and Wil Howard.
In rabbits, Daniel Rollins of Pleasant Lake received a $100 premium for his grand champion pen of fryers. Schmucker Farms had the high bid. Lillian Allen of Hamilton exhibited the reserve champion fryer pen and was rewarded with a premium of $275. The buyers were: Farmers State Bank, Fremont American Legion Post No. 257, Home Sweet Home, Keystone Cooperative, Shipe Spraying Service, Speedway Redi Mix Inc., Star Financial Bank, Terry and Cyndy German, Wagler and Associates Inc.
The same buyers were involved in the premium sale for Ian Allen's grand champion roaster pen. He received $500.
Isabelle Allen, sister to Lillian and Ian, showed the reserve champion pen of roasters. She earned $500 from the same buyer group.
Emma Wolfe of Waterloo exhibited the grand champion stewer pen. The high bid on her premium was $325 from Andrews and Shipe LLC, Buell Transportation, Carper-Koeppe Insurance Inc., E& B Paving, Edon Farmers Co-op, Farmers State Bank, FCI Construction, FCI Construction, First Federal Savings Bank of Angola, Hamilton Village Foods, Home Sweet Home, Hotwire Electric, Oberlin Real Estate and Auctioneers Inc., Pranger Enterprises, Stoy Farms, and Tim and Cherie Wolfe.
Adriana Buell of Angola sold the premium on her reserve champion stewer pen for $250 to Best One Tire and Auto Care of Angola, Buell Transportation, Cassie and Todd Pfafman, Cheryl Rodesiler, Farmers State Bank, First Federal Savings Bank of Angola, Griffiths Crop Agency, Harold Chevrolet and Ford, Hotwire Electric, Richard Squier Jr., Stoy Farms, Truland Equipment, and Tyler and Andrea Buell.
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