NEW GLARUS - Danielle Wittmann of New Glarus can't think of a better way to end her years as a 4-H member than her success at the Wisconsin State Fair this year.
Two of Wittmann's market lambs took both the Grand Champion and Reserve Champion awards.
"It was a heck of a way to go out," she said.
The lambs were among the animals sold at the Governor's Blue Ribbon Livestock Auction Aug. 12.
The 142-pound, grand champion crossbred market lamb sold for $5,000 to Miller-Coors, who donated the lamb to Second Harvest. The 136-pound, reserve champion Suffolk breed lamb sold for $2,000 to a group of State Fair food vendors.
The Governor's Blue Ribbon Livestock Auction is a fundraising event for youth to promote the livestock industry while enhancing and strengthening the agricultural community of Wisconsin. Proceeds from the auction contribute to the Premier Exhibitor Contest, Reserve Champion Market Animal Awards, Governor's Blue Ribbon Livestock Auction Scholarships, Camp of Champions and the Wisconsin Livestock Breeder's Annual Show Camp.
Wittmann credits her accomplishments to the support of her family and the help of Billy and Jeff Johnson, who helped her with the feeding program and training.
Both of her winning lambs were bought at Ellerbrock Club Lambs farm in Atkinson, Ill.
Wittmann has been showing sheep since she was two years old, and has been a 4-H member since she began as a Cloverbud.
In her eight years in the junior show at State Fair, Wittmann has won the Showmanship award every year, and has had two previous champions at the stock show.
Now 20 years old, Wittmann will no longer be showing in the junior show at the State Fair.
"I'll still be there," she said, "helping my younger brother (Jacen) - just not walking in the show ring."
Wittmann is currently Vice President of the Wisconsin Suffolk Sheep Association and sits on the national board of directors of the United Junior Suffolk Sheep Association.
She is attending U-W Platteville, majoring in agriculture education, with a minor in animal science. Wittmann hopes to teach high school and pass along all she has learned.
Two of Wittmann's market lambs took both the Grand Champion and Reserve Champion awards.
"It was a heck of a way to go out," she said.
The lambs were among the animals sold at the Governor's Blue Ribbon Livestock Auction Aug. 12.
The 142-pound, grand champion crossbred market lamb sold for $5,000 to Miller-Coors, who donated the lamb to Second Harvest. The 136-pound, reserve champion Suffolk breed lamb sold for $2,000 to a group of State Fair food vendors.
The Governor's Blue Ribbon Livestock Auction is a fundraising event for youth to promote the livestock industry while enhancing and strengthening the agricultural community of Wisconsin. Proceeds from the auction contribute to the Premier Exhibitor Contest, Reserve Champion Market Animal Awards, Governor's Blue Ribbon Livestock Auction Scholarships, Camp of Champions and the Wisconsin Livestock Breeder's Annual Show Camp.
Wittmann credits her accomplishments to the support of her family and the help of Billy and Jeff Johnson, who helped her with the feeding program and training.
Both of her winning lambs were bought at Ellerbrock Club Lambs farm in Atkinson, Ill.
Wittmann has been showing sheep since she was two years old, and has been a 4-H member since she began as a Cloverbud.
In her eight years in the junior show at State Fair, Wittmann has won the Showmanship award every year, and has had two previous champions at the stock show.
Now 20 years old, Wittmann will no longer be showing in the junior show at the State Fair.
"I'll still be there," she said, "helping my younger brother (Jacen) - just not walking in the show ring."
Wittmann is currently Vice President of the Wisconsin Suffolk Sheep Association and sits on the national board of directors of the United Junior Suffolk Sheep Association.
She is attending U-W Platteville, majoring in agriculture education, with a minor in animal science. Wittmann hopes to teach high school and pass along all she has learned.