Whitley County Youths Shatter Records
Published: Friday, July 31, 2026
Three record sales dominated the Whitley County 4-H Fair in Columbia City last Thursday.
Allie Kuehnert of Fort Waye had a star-spangled finish to her 4-H career. After 10 years of showing, her 4-H years culminated at the 4-H livestock auction as she opened the sale with a rendition of the national anthem, followed by the record-breaking sale of her supreme champion cow. She also won the grand champion title in the Holstein breed and the award for best udder.
"I could never imagine how much 4-H would shape who I am today," she said. "The kindness, encouragement and sense of belonging that I found here at Whitley County felt like home. I'm incredibly grateful that I got the opportunity to be a part of such an amazing 4-H community."
Kuehnert has learned skills in responsibility, perseverance, leadership, time management and hard work.
"Every project, every fair and every challenge has helped me grow into the person I am today," she said.
She thanked friends, family and community members for their support throughout her past 10 years.
A group of buyers (see list at end of story) paid $7,600 for a basket of dairy products from Kuehnert's supreme champion cow, blowing a 27-year record of $2,300 out of the water.
In goats, Logan Francis of Etna Troy Twp. did not sell his grand champion market doe. However, the 10-year member walked away from the sale having shattered the previous record in goat sales with a whopping $15,000 from buyers (see list) for his fifth overall doe. The previous meat goat record was $1,800, set in 2018. This is the highest record sale at the Whitley County Auction to date. Logan plans to attend junior college in Oklahoma to study animal science.
Another record bid was won by the friends and family of Landin Parrish of Union Twp. (see list). He was sent off $12,050 richer with the sale of his champion roaster chicken. The previous record was $2,000, set in 2018.
Overall, the auction raised $384,576 for 375 lots. That's an increase over last year's auction, which earned $371,910 with 387 lots.
The swine sale led off with the Pork Queen's kiss. This year's royal youth was Madison Millett of Pierceton. Mark Millett won the bid with $200. Madison also showed the grand champion barrow. It did not sell but will compete at the Indiana State Fair. She also won the showman of showman title. Her sister, Audrey, showed the grand and reserve champion gilt, which did not sell. She also will compete at the state fair.
The reserve champion barrow was sold by first-year member Drake Leedy of Columbia Twp. for $1,500. Paying the high bid were: Elite Animal Solutions, Ferrell Group w/ Keller Williams Realty, friends and family of Drake Leedy, Integrity Meats, Keystone Cooperative—Energy Division, Brent and Robin Napier, State Farm - Olivia Hinen, Steel Dynamics Inc. and WalkerHughes Insurance.
A total of 75 lots brought in $98,205 in the swine sale.
Trevor Hull of Washington Twp. walked away from the sale $550 richer after the sale of his grand champion junior steer. Cox farms paid the high bid. Eight lots of beef cattle earned 4-H'ers $11,160.
The dairy steer sale led off with Carly Linnemeier's reserve champion steer. It brought a high bid of $500 from Blackburn and Romey. The grand champion did not sell.
Her sister, Sage, took home the grand champion title for her dairy feeder steer. Schrader Real Estate and Auction bid $375 for the Holstein. The reserve champion did not sell.
Twenty lots of dairy steers earned $25,995. Another 20 lots brought home $25,850 for 4-H'ers selling dairy cheese. The dairy feeder club sold 43 lots for $43,585.
In lambs, the grand and reserve champions did not sell. Sixteen sheep raked in $12,225 for 4-H'ers.
In addition to Logan's record goat, two more Francis brothers, Levi and Lucas, also showed some top winners. Levi walked away from the fair with a purple banner for his market wether. Lucas Francis showed the reserve champion junior doe. Levi, Lucas and Logan will compete with their animals at the Indiana State Fair in August.
Nineteen meat goats raised $37,860 in sales.
Kiersten Williamson of Columbia Twp. earned a $350 bid for her grand champion dairy wether goat. Purchasing was Florence Livestock South Whitley. Ryan Zimmerman, son of Steve and Lisa Zimmerman, sold the reserve champion to Luke and Taylor Schrader for $200. Kole Kreider of Washington Twp. earned $1,250 for his reserve champion Nigerian Dwarf wether. Buying the goat was Gene Browning.
A total of 38 dairy goats brought in $29,538.
Miss Whitley County Greta Minthorn sold her kiss for $3,250. The winning bidder was her grandfather, Danny Worrick.
Minthorn took a moment to thank all the buyers for coming out to support 4-H, and the impact she has seen the program have on Whitley County youths.
"I am so grateful that I am able to honor the 4-H'ers, because that's why we're here. We're here for the many 4-H'ers, from first-years all the way up to the 10th-years. They are the future of this community," Minthorn said. "Their hard work is not just this week. You can see it in all the 4-H'ers, from their static projects to showmanship competitions."
This year, Whitley County 4-H celebrated having the most exhibitors in the fair since 1991. Between static projects and showmanship entries, there were over 1,000 youths exhibiting in the county fair.
Two grand champion rabbit exhibitors sold at the auction. Colt Juillerat of Cleveland Twp. brought his grand champion meat pen to the ring and left with $1,025, paid for by: Ag Plus, Jim, Arnold and Cathy Argerbright, Beck's Hybrid/Steve Cormany, Brad and Kelsey Arnold, Cormany Farms Inc., Brent and Rachelle Cormany, Lake City Bank, Micropulse Inc., Jon and Tara Pettigrew, Arden Schrader, Seth and Ashley Schrader, Shady Grove Farms, Pam Sherbahn, Cory and Maudie Sickafoose, Stetzel Farms Inc., TC Roost, Caleb and Jean Thomas, Whitley County Farm Bureau Inc., Wood Family Farms/Aaron and Rachel Wood, and Lucas Wright.
Kamden Reimer of Jefferson Twp. sold his grand champion stewer to his grandparents, Mike and Gloria Reimer for $300.
Sixty-six rabbit lots gathered $46,510 in bids.
The poultry sale was led off by Addison Reed and Alexis Crosson. Reed, of Smith Twp, showed the grand champion duck and received $500 from Shiela Pittenger. Crosson, of Etna-Troy Twp. exhibited the grand champion game Bantams, earning $400 from Moore family. Dylan Parrish showed the grand champion turkey, which sold to Frew Lamle for $325. Haydley Parrish earned $275 with the sale of the grand champion broilers to Steel Dynamics Inc.
A total of 54 poultry animals sold for $47,113.
Other grand and reserve champion animals that did not sell but will compete at the Indiana State Fair include Andrea Werstler's grand champion dairy steer, Carly Linnemeier's reserve champion steer, Hunter Smithson's beef steer, Parrish's reserve champion beef steer and Kiptyn Ott's grand champion lamb.
Support Groups
Allie Kuehnert: Ag Plus, Alliance Feed, Amply Holstein's, Jeremy and Lindsay Barron, Dave and Missy Black, Joshua Buuck/Indiana Farm Bureau Insurance, C&T Design, Cedar Creek Meats, Channel Seed/Rob Schuman, Clover Hill Suffolk Sheep, Copp Farm Supply, Cox Farms, Scott Drew family, First Bank of Berne, friends and family of Allie Kuehnert, Justin and Danielle Gaerte, Graft Milk Transport, Harm-Stead Holsteins, Hesterman Farms, Insurance Management Group, Integrity Meats, Mark, Alayne Johnson family, Kaeb Sales, Cindy Keuhnert, Linnemeier Farms, Brad and Christina Miller, Oliver Custom Combining, Danielle Oliver, Remuda Veterinary Center, Salesman and Son Trucking, Star Financial Bank, Stohlman Stock Solutions, Brian Stump, Truland Equipment, Vintage Archonics, Vita Plus, Whitley County Dairy Club, Yoder Farm Service & Hubbard Feed, Zach Vanevery family
Logan Francis: Ag Plus, Beck's Hybrids/Brad Cormany family, Blackburn Romey, Brad Hull Trucking, Brian and Lynnette Bridegam, Doug and Janelle Burnworth, Skylar Campbell, Brandi Chauncey, Brent and Rachelle Cormany,, CS Electric, D&R Farms and Sons, Chad and Caroline Downing, Empyre Excavating, Kyle and Abbey Francis,, friends and; family of Logan Francis, Garrett and Rilee Geiger, Wes Graves, Hindbaugh Farms LLC, Cory and Sarah Hindbaugh, Drew and Mindy Hoskins, Adam and Susan Hurley, Josh Buuck Agent Indiana Farm Bureau Insurance, Kelley Automotive Group, Lake City Bank, Linnemeier Farms, Maddox Family, Mike and Laura McGregor, Chad and Stephanie Nix, Ousley Farms, Kevin and Jennifer Parrish, Patterson Family Dentistry PC, Jerry and Amy Pettigrew, Jon and Tara Pettigrew, Reimer Rehab Consulting, Romine Group, Rouch Farms and family, Greg Rupert, Arden Schrader, Rob and Sarah Schuman - Family Farms, Stephen and Janet Schuman, Sunstar Hybrids - Chad Schipper, Turner family, WalkerHughes Insurance, Trent and Anne Waybright, Weatherhead FCU, Doug Western
Landin Parrish: Ag Plus, Beck's Hybrid/Steve Cormany, Beck's Hybrids/Brad Cormany and family, Blackburn Romey, CS Electric, DW Legacy Farms, LLC, Chad Egolf, Empyre Excavating, Farmers and Merchants Bank, Kyle and Abbey Francis, friends and family of Landin Parrish, Geiger Show Cattle, Cory and Sarah Hindbaugh, Adam and Susan Hurley, Integrity Meats, Mark, Alayne Johnson and Family, Kelley Automotive Group, Kristi Porter family, John and Jill Leedy and family, Linnemeier Farms, Kevin and Jennifer Parrish, JA Pettigrew Farms, Jon and Tara Pettigrew, Rouch Farms and Family, Greg Rupert, Schrader Real Estate and Auction, Arden Schrader, Rob and Sarah Schuman - Family Farms, Cory and Maudie Sickafoose, Steel Dynamics Inc., WalkerHughes Insurance, Trent and Anne Waybright
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