Allegan Fair Has Record Sale of $936,648
Published: Friday, September 19, 2025
The Allegan County youth livestock auction is moving ever so closely to the million-dollar mark. This year's total, with 452 lots, generated a record $936,632.83. That eclipses last year's mark of $817,786.
Beef and hogs comprised three-quarters of the total. Forty-three beef steers fetched $348,648.50, while 216 hogs brought $360,758.13. The average price for both steers and hogs was $6.14 per pound.
McKenna Modreske of Wayland led the way in beef steers. The 2025 high school graduate unloaded her 1,371-pound grand champion beef steer for $7 per pound, earning $10,892 from a buyer group led by Waanders Concrete. Other buyers included Nick Wellman/Silveus Crop Insurance, Brenner Excavating, Dr. Ken and Dian Main, Family Farm & Home, High Lean Pork, Caledonia Farmers Elevator and Modreske Feed.
Stepping in with the reserve champion steer was Hattan Dykstra of Wayland. He sold his 1,361-pound crossbred for $6.50 per pound ($10,171.50). The buyers were Dystra Livestock, Keystone Cooperative, GreenStone Farm Credit Services, Modreske Feed, Hamilton Helicopters, Modreske Fencing, Hilltop Food and Fuel, and Nutrien Ag Solutions of Bangor.
In the beef carcass auction, Lane DeWeerd of Otsego was a big winner with his 1,385-pound grand champion exhibit. He received $7 per pound ($9,695) from Thornapple Veterinary Medical Center.
Alyssa Burchardt of Hopkins was next with the reserve champion carcass. Cripps Fontaine Excavating bid $5 per pound ($6,875) for Burchardt's 1,375-pounder.
In swine, Brayden Jipping of Hamilton sold the grand champion barrow for $20 per pound ($9,550) to Beck's Hybrids, Cargill, GreenMark Equipment, M.D. Farm Supplies, GreenStone Farm Credit Services, Drozd Seeds, Hamilton Distributing Co., Lindner Feeds, Macatawa Bank and Farm Bureau Insurance/Hop Agency. The barrow weighed 280 pounds. The reserve champion barrow, weighing 288 pounds, was exhibited by Kaden Petroshus of Gobles. He received $10 per pound ($2,880) from Keystone Cooperative.
Exhibiting the grand champion gilt was Camdyn Drozd of Allegan. Drozd earned $12.50 per pound ($3,275) for her 262-pound hog. The high bid came from Paul Wolfram and Mark Pentecost. Claire Brink of Hamilton showed the reserve champion gilt and received $6 per pound ($1,794) from J&H Oil Co. Claire's hog weighed 299 pounds.
In the swine carcass auction, Thomas Lubbers of Hamilton sold his grand champion for $6 per pound ($1,695) to Brenner Excavating, Keystone Cooperative and Luggers Hog Enterprises. Delanie Dell of Allegan auctioned off the reserve champion carcass for $7 per pound ($1,890) to Generation III Excavating.
In sheep, Bryce Ostrom of Dorr exhibited the grand champion wether, which weighed 136 pounds. He earned $15 per pound ($2,615) from seven buyers: Burnips Farm Equipment, GreenStone Farm Credit Services, Brenner Excavating, Modreske Feed, Boers and More Farm, Centershot Gun Range and The Auction Management Company.
Modreske, with the 146-pound reserve champion wether, received $10 per pound ($1,460) from Dumont Lake Family Campground.
Alyssa DeJonge of Hamilton showed the grand champion ewe, which brought $9 per pound ($936) from Cody Galmore. The ewe weighed 104 pounds. Standing in second place was Jaydin Reed and his 141-pound reserve champion ewe. Jadin Properties had the high bid at $5 per pound ($955).
Alexis Percival of Bloomingdale sold the grand champion sheep carcass for $5 per pound ($590) to VanderKolk Cattle Co. Alex Hiemstra of Shelbyville was next with the reserve champion carcass. It fetched $5 per pound ($660) from Hiemstra Butchering.
Kylee Thompson of Holland led the way in the dairy steer sale. She sold her 1,686-pound grand champion for $5 per pound ($8,430) to Bravo Co. Repair. Auctioning off the reserve champion dairy steer was Colby Tucker of Hopkins. His 1,559-pounder brought $3 per pound ($4,677) from Southwicks.
Leading off the dairy starter calf sale was Chloe VanDyk of Dorr. She sold her grand champion calf for $6.50 per pound ($2,914.50) to Morren Feeds and Brenner Excavating. Thompson was next with the reserve champion dairy starter. Thompson received $5.50 per pound ($3,366) from Kyle Thompson Construction.
Sisters Kami and Kacie Veen, both of Hamilton, were big winners in the goat sale. Kamie sold the grand champion non-dairy goat for $11 per pound ($880) to Farm Bureau Insurance/Hop Agency. For her part, Kacie brought the grand champion carcass and received $10 per pound ($1,090) from Milbocker's Farm.
Eli Brink of Hamilton parted with his grand champion dairy wether for $10 per pound ($850). The buyers were Morren Feeds and Maul Law. Not to be outdone, Claire Brink, also of Hamilton, sold the reserve champion dairy wether for $11 per pound ($803) to HES Equipment and A&B Farms.
Cooper Ostrom of Dorr received $13 per pound ($1,706) for his reserve champion non-dairy goat. His supporters were: Farm Bureau Insurance/Hop Agency, GreenStone Farm Credit Services, Brenner Excavating, Modreske Feed, Boers and More Farm, Centershot Gun Range and The Auction Management Co.
The reserve champion goat carcass was exhibited by Leah Jablonski of Hopkins. She earned $8 per pound ($1,032) from VanderKolk Cattle Co.
Dairy youth exhibitors auctioned off a gallon of milk to benefit the dairy program. Supporters (see list at end of story) donated a total of $28,384.
In poultry, Gunner Beldon of Allegan sold a pen of turkeys for $8 per pound ($408) to Miller Creek Farm. Kolton Huff of Otsego sold his turkey pen for $9 per pound ($700) to Nutrien Ag Solutions and The Auction Management Co.
Raymon Cederholm of Byron Center sold the grand champion broilers for $6 per pound ($178) to Modreske Feed, Barber Ford and Don, Peg and Rod Berens. Kylynne Merica of Kalamazoo parted with her reserve champion broilers for $17.50 per pound ($213.50), selling them to Dykstra Livestock.
Shelbie Chambers of Dorr cashed in with her grand champion roasters. She earned $15 per pound ($288) from Dennis Polk Equipment. Lakyn Conway of Dorr was next with the reserve champion roasters. He received $15 per pound ($406) from Jake's Ag Supply and Brenner Excavating.
In rabbits, Jadin Sawyer of Allegan earned $27 per pound ($1,340) from the sale of his grand champion meat pen. Nine buyers—Gary Clark Storage & Repair, Honor Credit Union, Farm Bureau Insurance/Heffner Agency, Lake N Shore Detailing, Waanders Concrete, Brenner Excavating, Family Farm and Home, Midway Chevrolet and Steve Revor —shared the winning bid.
Brayden Baraza of West Olive sold the reserve champion meat pen for $14 per pound ($221) to Hardrock Farm.
The grand champion fryer was exhibited by Max Bukrey of Dorr. He sold his rabbit for $24 per pound ($110.40) to Hardrock Farm.
Subtotals, by species, were: 216 hogs, $360,758.13; 43 beef steers, $348,648.50; 65 goats, $62,462.50; 19 dairy starter calves, $52,738; 39 sheep, $40,786; 1 gallon of milk, $28,384; 4 dairy steers, $22,763; 32 rabbit pens, $8,900; 13 turkey pens, $6,937; 11 poultry pens, $4,075; and 9 pulled pork sales (fundraiser), $180.
Support Groups
• Gallon of Milk: Waanders Concrete Co., Country Fresh-DFA, Zeeland Farm Service, HES Equipment, Cripps Fontaine Excavating, Ridderman & Sons Oil Co., Milbocker & Sons Inc., Hopkins Elevator, Putters Trucking LLC, Nick Wellman Silveus Crop Insurance, Welchkin Acres, Farm Bureau Insurance/Hop Agency, Pickle Street Veterinary Service, Twisted Thorn Farms, Heasley Seeds, Drozd Seeds, Keystone Cooperative, Heritage Farms Trucking, Town & Country Veterinary Hospital, Brenner Excavating, Hamilton Helicopters, Farm Bureau Insurance/Heffner Agency, Southwicks, Perfect Image Salon, Burnips Equipment Co., Ron Dannenberg, Dr. Ken and Dian Main, Sunquest Hoof Trimming, Jake's Ag Supply, Scott Vanderkolk, David Bartz, Michigan Mixed Animal Vet Services, Class Act Salon, Northern Equipment & Leasing, Milbocker's Farm, Craig and Kerry Tucker, M&H Family Farms LLC, Kenny Clevenger for State Senate, Monterey Veterinary Center, Linda Burton Collier, 5T Farms, Hassevoort Cattle Co., Hamilton Steel Fabrication, Jeff and Lydya Hulst, Junior Boerman family, Don, Peg and Rod Berens, Michigan Cat, Petro Farms, Honor Credit Union
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