Sattler Hog Wins Top Spot in Kalamazoo County 4-H
Published: Friday, August 15, 2025
The grand champion market barrow at the Kalamazoo County 4-H Showcase last Thursday in Kalamazoo brought in an impressive $17 per pound for East Leroy exhibitor Dane Sattler. He sold his top hog to Victory Farms, receiving a total of $4,182 for the 246-pounder. He also showed the reserve champion gilt, a 262-pound hog, and sold it for $5 a pound ($2,065) to Balkema Excavating Kalamazoo.
His brother, Ryne, was not to be outdone. He walked away with the grand champion gilt, earning $7.25 a pound for his 281-pound pig from Motor Shop Electric during the auction. That's $2,462.25 total.
Carson Vosburg of Climax was the grand champion carcass exhibitor. Weighing 204 pounds, his winning project was sold to Motor Shop Electric for $4.75 a pound ($969).
Reserve champions for the barrow and carcass were Kinsley Bushouse of Climax and Cailyn Hecht of Vicksburg, respectively. Bushouse received $6 a pound ($1,662) for her 277-pounder from Carleton Equipment, and Hecht took home $4.50 ($1,099) for her 222-pounder from John Hoffa.
In total, 101 swine were sold at the Kalamazoo County 4-H auction, bringing in $138,566.95, which is approximately a third of the overall total of $315,023.95 from 277 lots. Last year, 272 lots sold for $253,936.75.
The top lamb was the 132-pound grand champion wether, exhibited by Lucas Wilson of Delton. He received a whopping $14 a pound ($1,848) from Scramlin Agency in the auction. Wilson returned to the auction ring with the reserve champion, earning
an additional $14 per pound ($2,007) from Caledonia Farmers Elevator, Dale W. Hubbard Inc. and Gale Acres–Jeff and Denise Wilson. It weighed 138 pounds.
Molly Kubiszak of Gobles earned $11 a pound ($1,463) in the sale of her grand champion ewe, which went to PTV Show Lambs. The reserve champion ewe was auctioned off by Henrik Acker to Beck's Hybrids. The 136-pounder earned $13 a pound ($2,168) for the Climax youth. Acker returned with the reserve champion fleece, which sold for $250 to the same buyer.
Audrey Wallace of Vicksburg took the grand champion title for her fleece, earning $250 from Meeuwse Farms.
Thirty-eight sheep sold for $43,936.50.
Brody Vosburg of Climax and Blake Morrison of Scotts showed the top two steers in the beef auction. Vosburg exhibited the grand champion beef steer, selling the 1,418 pounder to CT Electric Services Inc. for $6.90 a pound ($10,159.20). Morrison showed the grand champion dairy steer, weighing in at 1,610 pounds and earning $4.20 a pound ($7,262) from Myers Farm LLC in the sale.
Taking the reserve champion title in the beef steers was Natalie Hoagg of Richland. She sold her 1,688-pound steer to Natalie's Buyer Group, Marshall Meats, Hoagg Hoof Trimming and Coon Creek Farms for $6.35 a pound ($10,718.80). She was also the top showman in beef and swine. Joe Peck of Scotts auctioned off the reserve champion dairy steer. It weighed 1,546 pounds and earned $4 a pound ($6,184) from Balkema Excavating Kalamazoo.
Ten beef animals brought in $82,973.55 in bids.
Peck also showed the grand champion dairy feeder calf and won the title for top showmanship. He did not sell his grand champion, but his top showman calf earned him $3.30 a pound ($2,712.50) from Edge Wood Dairy. Kaylee Peck was the reserve top showman, earning $3.35 a pound ($2,043.50) from Dyer Farms; and Tyler Peck was the reserve champion dairy feeder calf exhibitor. He, too, decided not to sell at auction.
Eight dairy feeders were sold for a total of $15,321.95.
In addition to the large animals, a gallon of milk was sold in support of the Kalamazoo County 4-H dairy project. The overall grand champion cow was exhibited by Adaline Gilfillan of Richland. She and the dairy club sold a gallon of milk for $600 to Myers Farms LLC. After add-ons, the total rose to $1,650.
Also honored in the large animal sale were top showman. In addition to Hoaag and Peck, the top showmen, their animal division, buyers and the amount paid were: Eloise Wagar of Climax, sheep, Crystal Flash Petroleum, $1,547; and Eloise Wagar of Climax, Crystal Flash, $7.75 a pound ($1,547).
In the small animal sale, Chase Johnson of Edwardsburg showed the grand champion market goat. It sold for $575 to S&F Propane. The reserve champion was exhibited by Aubrey Motycka of Decatur. She received $550 from buyer Pickle Street Veterinary Service for her animal.
Two goats sold at the auction. Together, they totaled $1,125.
Isaac Gilfillan of Richland showed several grand and reserve champion animals in the poultry sale. His grand champion roaster earned $450 from Southwest Interiors, and the reserve champion Cornish hen put $550 in his pocket from Bimbo's Pizza. He also sold the grand champion tom turkey to Bimbos Pizza for $600.
Luke Gilfillan, also of Richland, showed the reserve champion roaster and exchanged it for $425 from Maury and Nancy Kaercher.
In broilers, William Foster of Vicksburg exhibited the grand champion and Annalise Jubenville of Kalamazoo had the reserve champion. They sold their birds to Edge Wood Dairy for $610 and Sheriff Richard Fuller for $425, respectively.
Jubenville also showed the grand champion Cornish hen and sold it to Martin Spring and Drive for $350.
In poultry, there were 36 lots bringing in $13,160.
Only one duck sold at the auction—Rowynn DeHaan's grand champion. It brought in $300 for the Kalamazoo youth, paid for by S&F Propane/WJ and Lori Stafford.
In addition to Isaac's turkey, Julia Shook of Fulton auctioned off some top birds. She sold the grand champion hen to Battle Creek Farm Bureau for $475 and reserve champion tom went to Beck's Hybrids/ John and Jenni Hayward for $500. Isaiah Snider of Climax showed the reserve champion hen and sold it to Meeuwse Farms for $250.
In all, 26 turkeys brought in $8,975 in bids.
To cap off the poultry auction, Maverick McClintock and the poultry club stepped forward to sell his grand champion dozen eggs, which went to benefit the entire poultry project. They received $300 from Dave and Barb Meeuwse.
Morrison Landscape Services paid the high bid for Alyssa Morrison's grand champion pen of three in the rabbit sale. The Scotts youth took home $325. Callie Foy of Mattawan sold the reserve champion pen of three, earning $145 from Bert's Bakery.
The grand and reserve champion fryers were exhibited by Rylee Tiller of Climax. She sold her grand champion for $500 to Scott and Tiffanie Myers and exchanged her reserve champion for $400 from Sutherland Farms.
Kalamazoo's Makayla King went home $500 richer with the sale of her grand champion roaster, which was purchased by John Hoffa. The reserve champion was sold by Hyrum Lunt of Mattawan for $200. Roger and Chris Subacz paid the high bid.
Finishing off the champion sales in rabbits were Olivia Gilfillan of Richland and Brooklyn Foy of Mattawan. Gillfillan sold the grand champion roaster to her father, John, for $200. Foy took home $160 with the sale of her reserve champion to M-40 Bar and Grill.
Fifty-three rabbits were sold, earning 4-H'ers $8,715.
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