Homer Youth Sells Hog for $30 a Pound
Published: Friday, September 4, 2026
Calhoun County livestock youths earned $822,021.64 from the sale of 361 lots during the youth livestock auction on Aug. 21 in Marshall. That's up approximately $30,000 over last year.
Leading the way was Homer's Emmett Leach and his supreme champion hog. A buyer group paid $30 per pound ($8,340) for the 278-pound market animal. Standing second in the swine show was Samia Wildt and her reserve supreme champion market hog. The Homer youth sold her 280-pound hog for $15 per pound ($4,200) to 17 buyers.
Samia and her sister, Emma, were the top exhibitors in the beef show. Samia sold the 1,314-pound grand champion steer for $7.50 per pound ($9,855), while Emma received $6.50 per pound ($9,087) for the 1,398-pound reserve champion steer. The same buyer group purchased both animals.
In dairy beef, Treysen Mead of Burlington sold the grand champion dairy steer for $6 per pound ($8,448) to Walters-Dimmick Petroleum. The steer weighed 1,408 pounds. The reserve champion dairy steer belonging to Kaleb Krummrey, also of Burlington, fetched $8 per pound ($11,760) from a support group. That steer weighed 1,470 pounds.
In sheep, Lucas Crow of Marshall sold the grand champion lamb for $20 per pound ($3,300) to Greg Crull Construction, Marking Machine, Lisa Sands State Farm Insurance, Kathy and Phil Crow, Joe and Carol Kimball, Zack Woods Construction, Chris Crow Farm Bureau Insurance and Reichow Beef. The lamb weighed 165 pounds.
Weighing 141 pounds, the reserve champion lamb was exhibited by Hailey Day of Marshall. She earned $17 per pound ($2,397) from Bi-Lane Livestock.
Emma Wildt also exhibited the grand champion dairy starter, which weighed 556 pounds. The final price of $2,000 was paid by Evan Leach of Beck's Hybrids and Chemical Solutions. Alaina Fry of Union City showed the reserve dairy starter, which brought $7,500 from Jolo Farms, Beck's Hybrids and Jorden Mullins. The calf weighed 562 pounds.
The grand champion market goat belonging to Olivia Boring of Battle Creek sold for $3,250 to C.D. and J.W. Builders. Not to be outdone, the reserve champion market goat brought $4,000, with Henry VanHoose of Marshall earning that amount from Keep and Martinson Inc.
In poultry, the grand champion pen of broilers belonging to Lucus Finch of Marshall was auctioned for $1,800 to Brembo North America. Elliott Seekman of Ceresco sold the reserve champion broiler pen for $675 to Jerry Seekman.
Collin Riggs of Marshall exhibited the grand champion roaster pen, earning $600 from Southern Michigan Bank & Trust. Another Marshall exhibitor, Veronica Murphy, sold the reserve champion roaster pen for $900 to Koenig Construction.
With the grand champion Cornish pen, Cy Willavize of Marshall received $500 from Irish Equipment. Seven buyers purchased the reserve champion Cornish pen shown by Madison Kellogg of Marshall. The price was $1,960.
The grand champion geese were exhibited by TaLieah Fuller of Battle Creek. She earned $800 from Athens Ag Center and Golden Harvest Seeds. Holding the reserve champion geese, Olivia Phillips of Bellevue received $300 from Family Farm & Home of Battle Creek.
Fuller returned to the ring with her grand champion market ducks. Those were purchased for $1,100 by Southside Veterinary Clinic, Zuhowski Farms and Beadle Lake Veterinary Clinic. Brenna Tullis of Battle Creek sold the reserve champion ducks for $300 to Bucky's Smokehouse & Custom Meats.
Logan Burger of Battle Creek dominated in the turkey show, bringing both the champion tom and hen. He sold the champion tom for $275 to Walters-Dimmick Petroleum and the champion hen for $350 to Independent Delivery and Mack Accounting LLC.
Walters-Dimmick Petroleum had the high bid on the reserve champion tom turkey shown by Matalynn Ellsworth. The price was $425. The reserve champion hen turkey belonging to Addison Stemaly of Tekonsha sold for $500 to Jeff and Tina Klingaman Farms.
In rabbits, Sanda Bogard of Athens received $300 from the sale of her grand champion stewer. The buyers were Van Machine, BC Diesel, Car Quest, Palmiter Farms, Athens by the River Campground, K Drive Green House, and Kincaid Auto.
Caleb Walker of Homer brought the reserve champion stewer. SJF Staffing LLC purchased the rabbit for $200.
Katherine McKim, also of Homer, sold the grand champion roaster for $600 to Don Marshall. Kyle Noble of Battle Creek auctioned the reserve champion roaster for $175 to Jeff Eyre.
Paisley Irons of Athens sold the grand champion fryer for $300 to Weedy Acres. With a bid of $300, T.J. Schmidt Carnival purchased the reserve champion fryer from Aiden Case of East Leroy.
Irons also had the grand champion rabbit pen. She received $525 from Gibson's Truck Repair. Nicole Neal of Albion sold the reserve champion pen for $300 to Flanders Farm.
Subtotals, by species, are as follows: 114 swine, $170,840.63; 50 beef steers, $328,601.50; 39 sheep, $64,279.50; 68 poultry pens,
$67,345; 32 rabbit pens, $9,525; 31 dairy starters, $101,150.01; 27 goats, $56,680; and gift baskets, $23,600.
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