The totals for the 2010 LaPorte County Fair livestock auction were well on their way to breaking last year's sale amounts even before the impressive $21,000 sale of Christopher Cummings' steer. The total amount sold for this year was $401,285.85, up by $49,202.16 over the 2009 sales. In all, 725 animals made it to the auction block.
Brandon Younggreen's grand champion steer, weighing 1,307 pounds, sold for a record $6,700, or $5.13 per pound. Purchasing this steer was a buyer group comprised of friends and family of Younggreen.
Christopher Cummings' reserve champion steer did not sell at the auction.
Rachel Devereaux got $1.26 per pound, or $1,550, for her 1227-pound grand champion beef ultrasound. It was bought by the Floor Store, Kingsbury Elevator, Horizon Bank, Hesters and J-Romes Hoof Trimming. The reserve champion beef ultrasound, shown by James Mitzner, weighed in at 1,178 pounds and sold for a record $2,400, or $2.04 per pound to Wanatah Primary Care, a division of Porter Health Systems.
The 1,635-pound grand champion beef rate of gain steer was auctioned off by Emma Marsh for $1,575, or 96 cents per pound, to Al's Supermarket and the Pontius family. The reserve champion beef rate of gain steer, owned by Melissa Smoker, was purchased by Dave Scarborough of the LaPorte County Farm Bureau for a record $2,000, or $1.35 per pound. This animal weighed 1,481 pounds.
Kelsey Tuholski's grand champion dairy rate of gain weighing 1,803 pounds, was sold to the Tuholski buyer group for a record $4,500, or $2.50 per pound. The reserve champion dairy rate of gain, shown by Jeffrey Campbell, was sold to Al's Supermarket and the Pontius family for $950. Weighing 1169 pounds, this animal sold for 81 cents per pound.
The grand champion dairy steer was exhibited by Joe Smoker. This animal weighed 1,415 pounds and sold for $3,000, or $2.12 per pound, to Smoker Family Farms. The reserve champion dairy steer, shown by Melissa Smoker, did not sell at the auction.
Sierra Pressel sold a quart of milk from her grand champion dairy goat for a record $600 to Kankakee Valley REMC, the Friends of 4-H Goat Buyers and Brian Pressell. Pressel also sold the grand champion dairy goat wether, weighing 88 pounds, to Kankakee Valley REMC for $225. The reserve champion dairy goat wether weighed 77 pounds and was shown by Hope Myroup. It was purchased by Kankakee Valley Propane Service and Insulation Specialties for a record $600.
Laurissa Sovinec's grand champion specialty goat wether did not sell at the auction, but Madelyn Scott's reserve champion specialty goat wether did. This animal weighed 78 pounds and sold for $300, to Ecowater Service Co.
Brock Sell's grand champion Pygmy goat wether, weighing 35 pounds, was purchased by Friends of 4-H Goat Buyers and Brian Pressel for $250. Al's Supermarket and the Pontius family purchased the reserve champion Pygmy goat wether from Jackie Snyder for a record $500.
The grand champion rabbit meat pen, owned by Kamrielle Saylor, was auctioned to Saylor's Livestock Slaughterhouse for $300. Madison Stevens' reserve champion rabbit meat pen was purchased for $275 by Perschke Livestock and Cheryl Smith.
The grand champion roaster rabbit, owned by Jared Rose, was purchased for a record $575 by Aim Construction and Aaron Fogus. Justin McSurley had the reserve champion roaster rabbit, which he auctioned off to Heinhold Feeds Co. for a record $400.
Dr. Andrea Rudolph of Pine Lake Animal Hospital bought Lee Harper's grand champion single fryer rabbit for $250. The reserve champion single fryer rabbit, exhibited by Leslie Thomas, auctioned for $200 to the LaCrosse Merchants and Friends of 4-H/Vern Schafer.
The grand champion market lamb, owned by Kirsten Lestinsky and weighing 123 pounds, sold for $2,000, or $16.26 per pound, to Dr. Houin of LaPorte Animal Hospital. A buyer group (see list at end of story) purchased Travis Lestinsky's reserve champion market lamb for a record $3,250. This animal weighed 132 pounds and the selling price was $24.62 per pound.
MeKenna Mrozinski's 106-pound grand champion lamb carcass was sold to a buyer's group called Friends and Family of MeKenna Mrozinski. The selling price was $12.26 per pound for a record total of $1,300. Craig Sims of Sims Meat processing bought the reserve champion lamb carcass from Mariah Fain for $250. Weighing 101 pounds, this animal netted $2.48 per pound.
Tom and LuAnn Troxel of South County Veterinarian and a buyer group of friends and family purchased the grand champion swine barrow from Logan Weiss for a record $5,500. This pig weighed in at 264 pounds, earning Weiss $20.83 per pound. Melissa Rudolph's reserve champion swine barrow weighed 265 pounds and was sold to Ron Nesius of Crow's Hybrids for a record $3,700, or $13.96 per pound.
Hayden Wolf's 270-pound grand champion gilt was auctioned for a record $3,200 to Heinhold Foods, Kingsbury Elevator, Farmers State Bank, PNC Bank, Farm Bureau Insurance, Irrigation Solutions, David Scarborough, Kankakee Valley REMC, Brodbeck Seeds and Chester Inc. The price per pound was $11.85. Kirstin Wolf had the reserve champion gilt, which weighed 267 pounds and sold for a record $1,100, or $4.12 per pound, or to Frontier Lawn and Recreation.
Robert Collins exhibited the grand champion gilt carcass ultrasound, which was auctioned off for $500 to a buyer's group called Friends of Robbie Collins. The 272-pound animal sold for $1.84 per pound. A friends and family buyer group also purchased Brett Loetz's reserve champion gilt carcass ultrasound, which weighed 282 pounds. The animal sold for $650 or $2.30 per pound.
Donald Stanish's grand champion barrow carcass ultrasound was not sold at the auction. Two animals tied for the reserve champion honors and they both were auctioned. The first was Travis Collings' 258-pound animal, which was purchased by Ken and Sharon Boilini for $1,050 or $4.07 per pound. The other reserve champion was shown by Cheyenne Rosenbaum. This animal weighed 255 pounds and was sold to Cary Rosenbaum, Adler Garst, Dairyland and PNC Bank for $1,100 or $4.31 per pound.
Jacob Byer's grand champion duck was not sold at the auction, but Gage Ott's reserve champion was purchased by Tom Fara of House of Fara for $275.
The grand champion turkey, exhibited by Justin Knoll, was sold to Shellie Kermin of LaPorte Regional Health Systems for $200. Jay Rose's reserve champion turkey fetched a record $600 at the auction and was purchased by George and Shelby Fultz.
The grand champion geese, owned by Jacob Byer, was not sold at the auction. He did, however, sell his reserve champion geese. It was purchased for a record $235 by The Rooter Man, Ace Towing, Farmers Insurance, LaPorte Village Mobile Home Park and the Balloon Specialists.
Christine Malecki did not sell her grand champion chicken at the auction. The reserve champion, shown by Gordon Griffin, was sold to LaPorte Savings Bank for $125.
Blake Johnson's supreme champion gallon of milk was auctioned off for a record $3,000 to a buyer's group called Friends and Family of Blake Johnson.
Other dairy winners and their sales were:
• Greg Hagenow, grand champion Jersey milk, $1,000, to Hagenow family, Clinton Dairy Farm and Shipshewana Auction Service/Keith Lambright.
• Timmy Ekovich, reserve champion Jersey milk, $200, to Supporters of Reserve Grand Jersey Milk.
• Greg Hagenow, grand champion Ayrshire milk, $1,000, to Hagenow family, Clinton Dairy Farm.
• Brad Johnson, reserve champion Ayrshire milk, $1,350 (record), to Robert Johnson.
• Courtney Grzesiowski, grand champion Brown Swiss milk, $1,000, to Eko Acres/Phyllis Ekovich family.
• Brad Johnson, reserve champion Brown Swiss milk, $1,350, to Robert Johnson.
• Greg Hagenow, grand champion Guernsey milk, $1,000, to Hagenow family, Clinton Farm, Farm Credit Services of Valparaiso and Denise Allen.
• Tommy Ekovich, reserve champion Holstein, $500, to Supporters of Reserve Grand Champion Holstein .
A total of 109 beef steers were sold for a total amount of $198,125. The average price per pound for beef was $1.37. Thirty-nine goats were sold at an average price of $4.79 for a grand total of $10,725. The 125 sheep sold at the auction netted a total of $44,625.80 with an average price per pound of $3.14.
In all, 298 pigs were sold at an average of $1.49 per pound.
The overall swine total was $112,075.05. Forty rabbits were sold for an overall total of $7,075. The poultry total was $15,885 for 103 birds. In all 12 airy cows/milk were auctioned for a total or $12,775.
Support Groups
Reserve grand champion market lamb—The Floor Store—Jim Roy, Kraft Auction Service, Lestinsky Auction Service, Chupp Auction Service, Fritz Auction Service, Engstrom Jewelry, The Farmer's Exchange. Johnson Johns, Farm Bureau Insurance, Clupacek Show Pigs, Sheriff Mike Mollenhauer,Mike and Joni Ames, Wineholt Construction, Don and Patt Hayhurst, Mary Ann Lestinsky, and Mitchell & Schoppell, Inc.