Berrien Youths Raise Auction Total to over $600,000
Published: Friday, August 22, 2025
Thanks to strong beef, swine and sheep sales, the Berrien County Youth Fair auction climbed to $614,255.52 last week. There were 848 lots sold.
The 2024 auction, with 789 lots, raised $587,182.21.
The beef sale featured 27 steers bringing $147,730.75, or $4.29 per pound. The swine sale, with 156 hogs, generated $282,076.27, or $6.97 per pound, and the sheep auction added another $32,325.25, or $11.19 per pound.
Kaylynn Crocker of Galien led the way among individual sales. Her 1,220-pound grand champion market steer sold for $7.51 per pound ($9,905), thanks to a buyer group (see list at end of story).
Weighing 1,370 pounds, the reserve champion market steer brought $6.65 per pound ($8,290.50) for Brycen Marsh of Galien. His buyers included Brycen Buyer Group, Marsh Farm Trucking, Payne Farm Drainage, Mark Farm Supply, A&L Seed LLC and Kaminski Farms Meats.
In swine, Katelyn Dargus of Buchanan partnered with North American Midway Entertainment on the sale of her grand champion market hog. The 282-pound hog sold for $10.50 per pound ($5,771). Standing second in the swine sale was Jayden Balint of Niles. He sold his reserve champion market hog for $5.50 per pound ($1,535) to Sunnybrooke Growers of Berrien Springs. The pig weighed 270 pounds.
In sheep, Drew George of Niles received $26 per pound ($6,768) for his grand champion market lamb. The 141-pounder was purchased by Robert Brunke Plumbing. George also won this year's large animal showmanship sweepstakes.
Not to be outdone, Kylie Brunke's 159-pound reserve champion market lamb sold for $37.50 per pound ($5,962.50) to a support group (see list). Brunke is from Eau Claire.
Kylie's sister, Megan, exhibited the grand champion Boer goat. She earned $70 per pound ($6,745) from a buyer group (see list). Sophia Bachman of Niles sold the reserve champion Boer goat for $13 per pound ($1,192) to Gail and Mary Lou Peterson and the Lane family, both of Niles.
Leading the way in the dairy market goat sale, Adyson Baker of Buchanan earned $3.25 per pound ($779.25) for her grand champion dairy wether. The high bid came from Reyes Adent Family Foundation.
The reserve champion dairy wether was exhibited by Taya Young of Niles. She received $3.25 per pound ($253.50) from Sherman Farms of Niles.
Fifty-nine goats were auctioned, raising $37,198.25.
Emeliah Teachworth of Baroda auctioned off a quart of milk from her grand champion milking doe for $800. EME Buyer Support Group, Mark Farm Supply, Teachworth Excavation Co., Whirlpool Corp., Tom and Angela Pearson, and All-In Farms went together on the purchase.
Jack Elliott of Baroda exhibited the grand champion Holstein and sold a gallon of milk for $5,100 to a support group (see list).
In the small animal auction, Lucas Zeiger of Niles earned $500 from the sale of his grand champion turkey. Versaw Earthworks had the high bid. Jonathan Necas of Three Oaks sold his reserve champion turkey for $460 to Sacend Farms of Stevensville.
The turkey sale saw 112 lots, with $21,795 in receipts.
Showing the grand champion market chickens, Jase Baker of Buchanan received $475 from Masten Farms of Niles and Country Heritage Credit Union. Gabby Carson of Buchanan sold the reserve champion chickens for $250 to Witherow Auto Body.
With 142 lots, the poultry sale netted $25,130.
A dozen eggs from Jessie Schwark's grand champion layer brought $225, courtesy of Mark Farm Supply, Seifert's Farm Supply, RC Boers and 2025 Egg Buyers Group. Schwark is from Galien.
In rabbits, Taryn Hartman of Niles sold the grand champion single rabbit for $450 to Black Arsenalgun store. Jasmine Lary, also of Niles, auctioned off the reserve champion single rabbit for $175 to Patton Farms and HRP Construction.
Brady Krassow of Niles earned $600 from Black Arsenal for his grand champion pen of rabbits. Lucie Chapman of Sodus received $400 from Cressy and Everett Real Estate for her reserve champion pen of rabbits.
The rabbit sale featured 234 lots, with $48,480 in receipts.
Also, 93 still exhibits were auctioned off, generating $13,395 in receipts.
Earlier this year, the Berrien County Youth Fair lost a longtime leader. Last Friday, the fair remembered the Bob Norris, who served as fair president and announcer during the livestock auctions. He passed away in April at the age of 95.
Support Groups
• Kaylynn Crocker's grand champion steer: Champion Steer Buyer's Group, Florey family/Jason Florey, George Brothers Show Lambs, Mark Farm Supply, M.E.T. Farms, Florey family\Debra Florey, Trent George Hay Sales, Jim Pastryk, Ron and Margaret Cowles, Grandma and Grandpa Neidlinger, Heritage Family Farms, the Totzke Girls, Plumbing Ace, Bowlin Show Cattle, Brenda and Butch Payton, the Hemphills, Mead and White Electric, Oldenburg & Sons Excavating, D&J Auto Parts & Hardware LLC, Janet Swartz Kuhn, CPA, SHF Cattle Co., Grandpa Jon Vollman, A&L Seed LLC, Dargus Ag LLC
• Kylie Brunke's reserve champion lamb: Brunke Girls Support Group, Dale Jasper Farms, Slowik Refrigeration, R.A. Mort Supply Co., Ed and Linda Brunke, Art Brunke, Modsanco Sanitation, Ott Insurance, Nyes Auto Tech & Tire, Country Heritage Credit Union, Hein Electric, Shannon's Daycare Inc., Zeilke Brothers Farm, Zeilke Property Management LLC, Robert Brunke Plumbing
• Megan Brunke's grand champion Boer goat: Brunke Girls Support Group, Dale Jasper Farms, Slowik Refrigeration, R.A. Mort Supply Co., Ed and Linda Brunke, Art Brunke, Modsanco Sanitation, Ott Insurance, Nyes Auto Tech & Tire, Country Heritage Credit Union, Hein Electric, Shannon's Daycare Inc., Zeilke Brothers Farm, Zeilke Property Management LLC, Robert Brunke Plumbing
• Jack Elliott's grand champion Holstein: Heritage Family Farms, All In Farms, Wuthrich Show Stock, Pat, Teri, Marissa and Natalie Freehling, Baroda Valley Farms,
Whirlpool Corp., Jerry and Trish Vigansky, Hein Electric, Burnips Equipment, Seifert's Farm Supply, REV Excavating, Country Heritage Credit Union, Wasko Farms, Sunnybrooke Growers, Ned Totzke, Pike Funeral Home, Soos Insurance Agency/Todd Soos agent
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