Total sales dollars for the Switzerland County 4-H Fair were up this year, with total sales this year standing at $96,035 – an increase over last year’s figure of $91,765.
Saturday night continued the week’s trend of hot, humid weather, but that didn’t stop spirited bidders from supporting the 4-H members and their projects.
First into the show arena for this year’s auction were the goats; and this year there were 36 goats available, the same number as the 36 goats sold at last year’s auction.
Dakota Taylor raised this year’s Grand Champion goat, which was purchased by RS Homes at a price of $525.
Last year, the Grand Champion Goat was sold for $650.
The Reserve Grand Champion goat was raised by Talen Taylor, and it was purchased by W.D. Deaton Amusement (the company that brought the amusement rides to this year’s fair) at a price of $400. Last year’s Reserve Grand Champion goat brought a price of $775.
The total sold was $11,735 a decrease from last year’s total of $20,025. Average purchase price was down. Buyers averaged $325.97 per goat this year. Last year the average was $556.25
Next came the swine; and this year there were 38 pigs available, up from 31 swine sold at last year’s auction. This year’s Reserve Grand Champion, shown by Julie Furnish, was not sold at the auction because she is going to show the swine at this year’s Indiana State Fair.
Lane Penick raised this year’s Grand Champion swine, which was purchased by Charlie Kincaid/Bar Tie Racing at a price of $1,450.
Last year, the Grand Champion Swine was sold for $1,400.
Since the Reserve Grand Champion swine wasn’t sold, that left a big hole in the total amount for pigs, but buyers came through on the other animals. Last year’s Reserve Grand Champion pig brought a price of $950.
The total sold was $23,860, a decrease from last year’s total of $24,175. Average purchase price was down. Buyers averaged $627.89 per swine this year. Last year the average was $779.84
Third into the show arena for Saturday night’s livestock auction were the rabbits.
Max Galbreath had this year’s Grand Champion Rabbits, purchased by the Aurora Lions Club/Aurora Farmers Fair for $400. Last year’s Grand Champion sold for $550.
Dillon Splain sold the Reserve Grand Champion Rabbits to Switzerland County Sheriff Roy Leap for $360. At last year’s auction, the Reserve Grand Champions sold for $350. The total sold for rabbits was $9,270 – an increase/decrease from last year’s figure of $7,415. There were 29 rabbits sold for an average purchase price of $319.65, a increase over last year’s total of $231.72.
The Grand Champion Sheep was shown this year by Kelsey Berry; and at Saturday’s livestock auction it was purchased by Cutter Farms at a price of $850. Last year, the Grand Champion sheep sold for $725.
The Reserve Grand Champion Sheep was raised by Logan Parton, and it brought a price of $600 at Saturday night’s auction by Chandler Chevrolet. Last year’s Reserve Grand Champion sheep sold at a price of $725.
Overall there were 12 sheep in this year’s auction, down from last year’s number of 15. The total selling price for sheep was $7,310, a slight increase from last year’s total of $7,125. The average price for the sheep this year was $609.16, compared to $475 last year.
After the sheep, it was dairy’s turn to enter the auction arena. Unique at the auction, since dairy cows are far too valuable to sell, 4-H members instead auction off baskets filled with dairy products and other goodies.
This year, Natalie Newman’s Grand Champion Dairy was purchased by Los Bandidos Restaurant for $675. Last year’s Grand Champion sold for a price of $1,200.
This year’s Reserve Grand Champion Dairy project was shown by Luke Haskell, and was sold for $400 to Haskell and Morrison Funeral Home, a decrease of last year’s selling price of $625. There were five dairy projects that sold for a total of $2,750 – an average price of $550. That’s a decrease over last year’s total of $3,525.
Next to the show arena on Saturday came the beef projects, and this year there were 18 steers at the auction, up from last year’s total of 16.
Hilltop Basic Resources purchased this year’s Grand Champion Steer for a record price of $2,950 from Chelsea Duvall, up from last year’s selling price of $2,600. Patrick Stow’s Reserve Grand Champion Steer went for $2,200 to Belterra Casino Resort and Spa, an increase from last year’s price of $1,650.
After Belterra purchased the Reserve Grand Champion, representatives announced that Belterra was donating the animal to the Quercus Grove Food Pantry, as a way of helping supply food for needy Switzerland County families.
The steers in this year’s fair sold for an overall total of $35,600 – an average price of $1,977.78. That’s a slight bit more than last year’s overall total of $26,375.
The final species into the show arena on Saturday night was the poultry; and this year Bowling Farm Equipment and Bob’s Tack Shop went together and bought the Grand Champion Poultry for $580 from Nathan Romans, up from last year’s Grand Champion price of $425. The combination of Delta Faucet Company and Kenny Roberts paid $450 for Reserve Grand Champion, shown by Hannah Romans. Last year the Reserve Grand Champion brought a price of $375.
Buyers spent a total of $4,060 on poultry – more than last year’s total of $3,125. The 17 poultry projects sold for an average price of $238.82, down from last year’s average of $284.09.
The volume buyer was again Haskell and Morrison Funeral Home
The auctioneers were Bobby Owings, Ricky Keeton and Bill Mathews. The appraiser was Cox Livestock of Versailles. Eric Cole ran the livestock program.
Overall it was an outstanding auction – an outstanding conclusion to a wonderful (if hot) fair week in Switzerland County.