MONROE - Melinda Statz has spent the last 11 of her 17 years showing livestock at the Green County Fair.
"I love showing the animals," said Statz, of Belleville, who is active in 4-H and the Dayton Dairylanders. "And, it keeps me busy during summer. You meet a lot of great people."
Statz showed her sheep on Friday, and sold one of them on Saturday for $3.75 a pound, or $431.25 total, to Mark's Chemical LLC, of Monticello.
Showing animals has been a passion for Statz, who plans to continue doing it as long as she can. National FFA Organization and 4-H members are allowed to show and sell animals until the summer after their freshman year of college, or until age 19.
"It's just something you fall in love with doing," Statz said. "Every year you keep learning things."
Statz is just one of the those who auctioned off the 162 animals sold at the 4-H and FFA Livestock Auction. There also were 62 lots sold at the Fur and Feather Auction Saturday.
Livestock Auction
The livestock auction started with the champion and reserve champion pigs, lambs and steers. The grand champion and reserve champion animals will represent Green County at the Wisconsin State Fair in August.
The average price paid for steers is $1.53 per pound, which is up eight cents from last year, said Green County Ag agent, Mark Mayer.
Brooke Suddeth, Hiawatha 4-H club, sold the grand champion steer for $3,212.50 to Craig Carter, DDS.
Cameron Wahl, Monroe FFA, sold the champion steer carcass for $2,547.45 to Powers Auction, of Browntown.
The highest non-champion steer sold was owned by Brandon Bauman, Juda FFA, for $3,300 to Spiech Oil Company.
"The average price for lambs was $4.29 per pound, up 33 cents from last year," Mayer said.
The champion sheep, owned by Daren Wittmann, New Glarus FFA, was sold for $774 to Colony Brands, Inc.
Kayla Klitzman, Dayton Dairylanders 4-H, sold the highest non-champion sheep for $720.50 to Matt and Pam Hady.
The average price for pigs is $3.71 per pound, which is up 41 cents from last year, Mayer said.
Colton Brugger, Dayton Dairylanders 4-H, sold his champion pig for $3,025 to Larson Acres.
Jolly Mixers 4-H member, Sidney Peach, sold her grand champion pig for $1,100 to Klondike Farms.
The highest non-champion pig sold was owned by Ellie Gifford. Gifford sold her pigs for $1,787.50 to Ken Elmer of Swiss Family Smokehouse.
Fur and Feather Auction
Ducks, roasters, single fryers, and turkeys were sold at the auction Saturday morning.
Bidders spend $13,810 on animals at the auction, which was about $700 less than last year.
The average prices for the animals in the fur and feather auction were consistent with those from previous years, Mayer said.
Ducks, roasters and turkeys are sold in pairs, and count as one lot or pen, Mayer said, adding that "the price paid is for the pair of birds."
Marley Malkow, Jolly Mixers 4-H, sold the highest lot of ducks for $300 to Jeff Malkow.
Juda FFA member Jordyn Steinmann sold the highest lot of ducks to Troy Klessinger for $425.Brayden Schwartzlow, Washington Center 4-H, sold his single fryer rabbit for $260 to Peterson Family Farm LTD.
Plainview Stock Farms bought turkeys from Colton Brugger, Dayton Dairylanders, for $675.
Auction totals
"The total for both sales was $225,108, which was higher than last year, despite less animals being sold this year," Mayer said.
The auctions though go beyond the sale of the animals.
"It's a way local business can out and support local youth," Mayer said. "Green County businesses and the community have always been great supporters of our youth."
And the money received during the auctions goes towards other projects.
"Many youth use the money for purchasing next year's project animals, as well as saving for future post secondary education," Mayer said.
-Holly Ann Garey
"I love showing the animals," said Statz, of Belleville, who is active in 4-H and the Dayton Dairylanders. "And, it keeps me busy during summer. You meet a lot of great people."
Statz showed her sheep on Friday, and sold one of them on Saturday for $3.75 a pound, or $431.25 total, to Mark's Chemical LLC, of Monticello.
Showing animals has been a passion for Statz, who plans to continue doing it as long as she can. National FFA Organization and 4-H members are allowed to show and sell animals until the summer after their freshman year of college, or until age 19.
"It's just something you fall in love with doing," Statz said. "Every year you keep learning things."
Statz is just one of the those who auctioned off the 162 animals sold at the 4-H and FFA Livestock Auction. There also were 62 lots sold at the Fur and Feather Auction Saturday.
Livestock Auction
The livestock auction started with the champion and reserve champion pigs, lambs and steers. The grand champion and reserve champion animals will represent Green County at the Wisconsin State Fair in August.
The average price paid for steers is $1.53 per pound, which is up eight cents from last year, said Green County Ag agent, Mark Mayer.
Brooke Suddeth, Hiawatha 4-H club, sold the grand champion steer for $3,212.50 to Craig Carter, DDS.
Cameron Wahl, Monroe FFA, sold the champion steer carcass for $2,547.45 to Powers Auction, of Browntown.
The highest non-champion steer sold was owned by Brandon Bauman, Juda FFA, for $3,300 to Spiech Oil Company.
"The average price for lambs was $4.29 per pound, up 33 cents from last year," Mayer said.
The champion sheep, owned by Daren Wittmann, New Glarus FFA, was sold for $774 to Colony Brands, Inc.
Kayla Klitzman, Dayton Dairylanders 4-H, sold the highest non-champion sheep for $720.50 to Matt and Pam Hady.
The average price for pigs is $3.71 per pound, which is up 41 cents from last year, Mayer said.
Colton Brugger, Dayton Dairylanders 4-H, sold his champion pig for $3,025 to Larson Acres.
Jolly Mixers 4-H member, Sidney Peach, sold her grand champion pig for $1,100 to Klondike Farms.
The highest non-champion pig sold was owned by Ellie Gifford. Gifford sold her pigs for $1,787.50 to Ken Elmer of Swiss Family Smokehouse.
Fur and Feather Auction
Ducks, roasters, single fryers, and turkeys were sold at the auction Saturday morning.
Bidders spend $13,810 on animals at the auction, which was about $700 less than last year.
The average prices for the animals in the fur and feather auction were consistent with those from previous years, Mayer said.
Ducks, roasters and turkeys are sold in pairs, and count as one lot or pen, Mayer said, adding that "the price paid is for the pair of birds."
Marley Malkow, Jolly Mixers 4-H, sold the highest lot of ducks for $300 to Jeff Malkow.
Juda FFA member Jordyn Steinmann sold the highest lot of ducks to Troy Klessinger for $425.Brayden Schwartzlow, Washington Center 4-H, sold his single fryer rabbit for $260 to Peterson Family Farm LTD.
Plainview Stock Farms bought turkeys from Colton Brugger, Dayton Dairylanders, for $675.
Auction totals
"The total for both sales was $225,108, which was higher than last year, despite less animals being sold this year," Mayer said.
The auctions though go beyond the sale of the animals.
"It's a way local business can out and support local youth," Mayer said. "Green County businesses and the community have always been great supporters of our youth."
And the money received during the auctions goes towards other projects.
"Many youth use the money for purchasing next year's project animals, as well as saving for future post secondary education," Mayer said.
-Holly Ann Garey