At the Marshall County Premium Livestock Sale on July 24 in Argos, Alanis Knepp took top bids with the grand champion barrow that sold for $4,800. The public sale totaled $75,470 in bids this year, down $28,660 from last year's total of $104,130 after only 207 lots were sold, one more than this year. The auction began with a parade of champions with each animal represented.
A total of 206 animals crossed the auction block, spanning divisions from dairy goats, sheep, dairy products, swine, dairy cattle females, dairy steers, beef, rabbits, meat goats and poultry. A total of seven dairy goat wethers earned $1,600; 24 sheep brought in $7,600; 82 swine, $30,750; three dairy cattle females grade, $1,820; three dairy cattle females registered, $4,950; 13 dairy steers, $9,150; 3 beef, $900; 28 rabbits, $4,775; 12 meat goats, $6,675; 30 Poultry, $7,250.
Sophia Howell of Bourbon Twp. claimed the grand champion dairy goat wether. The buyer, 1st Source Bank, paid a premium price of $100. Also placing reserve was Ila Fisher from Polk Twp., who also took home the premium of $100 from Marshall County REMC.
Hanley Feldman of Center Twp. took grand champion in market lambs. The entry brought a premium of $4,500, purchased by a support group/ (see list at end of story). Olivia Ennis from Green Twp. also placed reserve champion in market lambs; the buyer, Marshall County REMC, paid the premium of $150.
Ten-year member Ellie Bollenbacher of Green Twp. claimed the title for her overall grand champion dairy cow, a Jersey. The dairy products cost a premium of $3,500, paid for by a support group (see list).
Hannah McCay of Walnut Twp. took junior champion in the dairy cattle—the champion Brown Swiss sold for a premium of $600 by Mandy Campbell from ReMax Aspire. Harper Davis also sold junior champion dairy products, which went for a premium of $770 to a group of buyers (see list). She exhibited the top Jersey. Caleb McCay of Walnut Twp. placed in junior champion class with his Ayrshire cow. Buyers Leonard Farms paid the $450 premium.
Preston Brookins also took grand champion in dairy cattle with her Guernsey. It was sold for a premium of $1,700 to Aunt Tabitha's family, Jennings Insurance, Shady Lane Farms, 3130 Equipment, Red Hen Turf Farm, Tim and Cherie Wolfe, Hartzler Funeral Home/King Memorial.
Also placing, in reserve, was Carter Schafer from Green Twp., who walked away of $650 richer after the sale of products from his Holstein to 3130 Equipment, Dave and Karen Cox (Cox Family Rentals), Jeff and Amy Pugh, Luke Miller-Miller Feed, Grandpa Elton and Grandma Brenda Schafer, Grandma Carol Singleton, Marcus and Julia Troyer, Bruno's Plymouth, Banner Tax Service.
Alanis Knepp of Center Twp. placed grand champion barrow. The buyers (see list) paid a premium of $4,800. Placing in reserve was Jocelyn Kain from Union Twp., who did not sell.
Leah Pizzuto from Walnut Twp. took grand champion dairy steer. The friends and family of Leah paid a $6,000 premium for the dairy steer. Whittlee Singleton, the dairy queen, took reserve grand champion dairy steer. Her support group paid a $2,375 premium for the dairy steer.
Regan James of Center Twp. showed the grand champion beef steer, which steer did not sell. Mason Hall of Bourbon Twp. won reserve champion with his beef steer, which also did not sell.
Jacob McManis of German Twp. had the grand champion meat pen rabbits. Mom and Dad, Nana, Granny, Stickley Ace Hardware, J&T Meister Construction and Mike Czajkowski Builders LLC combined efforts to pay a premium of $200 for the pen. Sarah Kline from German Twp. won the reserve grand champion meat pen. Marshall County REMC paid a $100 premium for the reserve.
Lindsey Ryan of Polk Twp. won the grand champion stewer. The buyers, Purple GiG, Nana and Popi, Uncle JT, Hoover Feed, Oliver Ford, Aunt Abbi, Parker Norris, Beauty & Beach, Aunt Sharon and Beacon Credit Union paid a premium of $1,200 for the rabbit. Colton Nusbaum from Polk Twp. won the reserve grand champion. River Valley Rabbit Club paid a $125 premium for the reserve.
Zoey Daren of Polk Twp. claimed grand champion rabbit roaster. The roaster fetched $100 premium from River Valley Rabbit Club. Sarah Kline from German Twp. won the reserve grand champion roaster. River Valley Rabbit Club paid a $100 premium for the reserve.
Ashlynn Cox from Polk Twp. claimed grand champion single fryer. The buyer, Doris Barden, bought the premium for $100. Placing in reserve was Brielle Berger of German Twp. The buyers, Mobile Tech, Tom and Sandy Berger, Phil and Allison Meister, Grandma and Grandpa, Doug and Regina Jones, and Dana and Cindy Bondurant paid the top dollar, $400, for the fryer.
Brody Lebo of West Twp. took grand champion with his meat goat wether, but did not sell. Brayden Langfeldt of Center Twp. earned reserve grand champion title with his meat goat, a middle weight. He received a total premium of $2,600 from Langfeldt Farms. Langfeldt also took reserve champion in middle weight meat wethers. The same buyer paid the premium.
Parker Wolfe won the grand champion chicken. It sold for a $650 premium to Aunt Tabitha's Family, Jennings Insurance, Shady Lane Farms, 3130 Equipment, Red Han Turf Farm, Tim and Cherie Wolfe, Hartzler Funeral Home/King Memorial. Lia Dosmann of Polk Twp. was named reserve champion chicken. The chicken sold for a total of $500 to Northern Electric Co.
Ten-year member Rilee Bemish of Bourbon Twp. earned the grand and reserve champion titles for her turkeys. The grand champion went for a premium of $1,350 to buyers Tim and Melinda Lemler, Squirrel Racing, Etna Elevator, Martensen family, Bemish family, Emenaker family, Carson family, Wright family and Marc Sovik. The buyer Markay's Castle of the Dogs and Ace Hardware of Mentone, paid a premium of $100 for the reserve turkey.
Caleb Schaetzle of Bourbon Twp. placed the grand champion duck. The duck did not sell. Kaelynn Cox of Polk Twp. won reserve grand champion in ducks. The buyer, Beacon Credit Union, paid a premium of $75. Olivia Lopez showed the grand champion geese. The geese did not sell.
Support Groups
Grand champion market lamb: Bates Corp., Langfeldt Excavating, A&M Home Services, Berger Welding Supply, Lemler Oil, S&K Construction, Oliver Ford/Hoffer Lawn Service Hoffman Outdoor Power Equipment, First Source Bank, First Federal Savings Bank, First Merchants Bank Bourbon, Lane Leeper- Aflac, Mark and Gayla Berger, Mike Berger, Andy and Shelly Knepp, Chad and Emily Nifong, Dave and Laurie Stults, Tim and Melinda Lemler, Drew and Abigail Kelham, Susie Houin, Russ and Audrey Feldman, Steve Shirley, Deramy Construction, Ryan and Anna Morris, Brian and Marci Feldman, Steve and Donna Feldman, Alvin and Wendy Morris, Mark and Amanda Feldman
Grand champion dairy cattle: Tyler Funk/Hoover Feed, Farm Credit Mid America, Neukomm Logistics, Kirkdorffer Milk Transport, Argos Dairy Service, GreenMark Equipment, Keystone Cooperative, Louis Dreyfus Commodities, Mike and Jan Heckaman, CAT, Jennings Insurance, PJ Neff/Vita Plus
Junior champion dairy cattle: Mimi and Papaw, Jodie and Brock Vermillion, Grandma and Grandpa, Sheeni and Uncle Dwayne, Mom and Dad, Aunt Paige and Uncle Pax, Frie Conn Farms, Natasha Blackford and kids, Todd and Cheyenne Blackford family, Justin and Susan Watson, Michael and Kathyrn Ingle
Grand champion barrow: Keystone, Guckien family, Wilson Feed, Seltenright Family Farm, Nate and Katelyn Long, Sticher Family Farms, Templin Farms, Interra Credit Union, Digger Specialties, Oliver Ford, Louis Dreyfus, Bickel family, Alber family, Jennings Insurance, Hochstetler Grain Equipment, Harrell Ag, B&P Trucking, Rochester New Holland, M Seltenright, Dan Knepp, GreenMark, Lemler Oil, Farmers Mutual and Clunette Elevator
Reserve grand champion dairy steer: Staci Singleton and Justin Koss, Mike and Rhonda McCay, Tucker and Shelby Webb, Kelsey and Eric Manson, Farm Bureau Insurance, Brian Landis, Diamond View Farms, Hoover Feed Service, Mentone Elevator, John and Bonnie Broeker, Brad and Shannon Harris, Jay Gray and Diana Harris, Kathy Cairef, John and Lawana Singleton, Brett and Debbie Sanders, Marshall County Blueberry Festival, Jennings Insurance and Oliver Ford