Bidders support 4-H livestock exhibitors

Auction bidders who couldn’t watch the judging for Bartholomew County 4-H Fair exhibitors or hear the auctioneer still stepped up to spend $108,000 at this year’s virtual fair livestock auction.

The total auction value stood at $108,000 on Monday. Half of that money came from the online auction, and half from donations made to the Friends of 4-H, according to livestock auction committee chairman Becky Speaker.

The $108,000 is substantially less than the 2019 livestock sale total of $255,686.

About 176 students who are 4-H club members participated in the online auction — down from 245 last year. A number of club members had either chosen to participate in a private livestock show organized by parents and supporters last month, while some attempted to do both.

There were 57 bidders online at some time Thursday and Friday, compared to about 125 who were making offers during last year’s traditional auction event at the 4-H Pavilion.

About 43 of the online bidders were members of the “Friends of 4-H Organization” and about 36 of this year’s participants submitted one or more winning bids this year.

Even though the auction total is lower, more contributions are expect to be made to the Friends of 4-H fund over the next week, Speaker said.

While the Friends organization has usually placed bids on particular livestock in the past, supporters are allowed to either direct their contribution to an individual club member or to a general fund. This means livestock exhibitors from the online auction will receive a separate payment from the Friends organization, as well as money from the winning bid, Speaker said.

Another change this year benefiting the club members was that there was no option to purchase any animal for personal use processing. It was a premium-only auction, which meant winning bidders do not actually get the animal.

All money from the winning bids went to 4-H members to help them cover expenses and prepare for their futures, Speaker said.

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  • Landmark Farms (Shorty Whittington, Kristen Whittington)
  • TRICO Farm Supply
  • Bartholomew County REMC
  • Tom Reuter – Tom Reuter Crop Insurance
  • Columbus Silgas
  • Azalia Elevator
  • Innovative Casting Technologies (ICT)
  • Farm Credit Mid-America
  • Gary Meyer of Pioneer Seed and Meyer Crop Insurance
  • Country Chevrolet
  • Friends of 4-H.

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Emily Hoene – Grand Champion Beef. Top bidder: Bonnell Cattle Co.

Betsy Hoene – Grand Champion Dairy Beef Top bidder: Friends of 4-H

Marnie Schwartzkopf – Grand Champion Sheep. Top bidder: Bartholomew County REMC

Royce Lofton – Grand Champion Goat Wether. Top bidder: Country Chevrolet

Libby Wischmeier – Grand Champion Swine. Top bidder: Farm Credit Mid-America

Chloe Sims – Grand Champion Poultry. Top bidder: Janalyce Nugent

Ezra Harrison – Grand Champion Rabbit. Top bidder: Daily Feed & Grain, Kalmbach Feeds, LG Seeds

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