MONROE - Auctioneers rapidly fired off numbers and names while youth participants tried their best to show the best side of their animals, whether they were feathered, furry or hoofed during the Green County Fair FFA and 4-H auctions Saturday.
In the stock pavilion of the fairgrounds, the Fur and Feather auction began at 10 a.m. with poultry and rabbits held on display. Large fans blew dusty, hot air around the bleachers where buyers sat anticipating the perfect animal to bid on while others stood in between seeking the same.
Daniel Dunphy stood holding his Reserve Champion turkey as the bids jumped from $200 to the low $700s and finally sold for $850, outselling the seven other birds in the pen by $500 or more. The second highest-selling turkey was raised by Marley Malkow and went to Brooklyn Rolling Green Dairy for $350. The Champion turkey was shown by Alan Woller, and was purchased by Powers Auction Service for $275.
In his first year of showing, Dunphy watched the bidding war over his bird with a smile bursting on his cheeks as he displayed the large bird's white wings proudly. The 9-year-old from Albany was excited and admitted no nervousness while standing before the sea of eyes in the stands of the pavilion. He added that he enjoyed caring for the turkey over the past year.
"They're funny animals," Dunphy said. "They have a funny personality."
Alexa Marty of Monroe fell on the other side of success with her market rabbit, which went for $150 to Teresa Zimmer. At 16, Marty said she has been raising rabbits for seven years, through 4-H and through the FFA. Last year, her rabbit sold for over $400, but she was still happy with the 2016 results.
"There are a lot fewer buyers this year," Marty said. "But that amount is still good for a rabbit."
Marty added that the interest from buyers shows she handled the bunny with care and displayed a healthy animal, despite the drop in numbers.
Overall the Fur and Feather Auction dropped dramatically in totals compared to the record 2015 year. The total of the auction was $17,090 this year, down nearly $10,000 from its proceeds last year, and more than $6,000 less than in 2014.
The Champion set of chickens shown by 10-year-old Alana Durtschi in her second year of showing sold for $450 to JAS Farms. Libby Maclean showed the pair of Reserve Champion roasters, which sold for $275 to Beck Design.
For the ducks, 18-year-old Malkow showed the champion pair, which were sold to Jeff Malkow for $350. The Reserve Champion was shown by Andrew Blumer, who sold his pair of ducks to the Drafall Family for $175.
The Champion rabbit was shown by Emily Makos and was purchased for $200 by Cal Schaver Auctions. Nicholas Mavueus had the Reserve Champion rabbit, which went for $175 to Beach Auction Service.
Jeb Beck showed his cross-bred rabbit during the fair and fetched the same number as last year, $250 for the animal. He also showed a pig in the Livestock Auction, which followed in the pavilion at 12:30 p.m. Saturday.
Beck of the Dayton Dairylanders 4-H, said he has been showing hogs for four years. At 16, he has some experience guiding the animal with switch in hand, but said it has not gotten easier knowing he is in the spotlight.
"Being up there, I don't know how to explain it," Beck said. "I get really nervous. But I do all right. I really like coming to the fair and seeing all of the people."
Beck said it has been a success so far, and that he intends to keep showing animals as long as he can. He was happy with the rabbit results, the animal going to Klitzman Seed LLC. His 270-pound hog went for $3.50 for a total sale of $945 to Evansville FFA Alumni.
Swine sales totaled $86,367.15. The average auction sale for all pigs was $3.91 per pound. The total swine sales total in 2015 was $106,123.45 and the average sale of all pigs was $4.73 per pound.
Reece Rufer showed a cross-bred pig. The 280-pound animal went to Abracadabra Limo Co. for $3.75 per pound. Rufer took home a total of $1,050 for the hog. Rufer said he has seen similar totals for pigs he has raised over the last four years he has shown them. At 14, the showman from Monticello displayed little trouble leading the animal around the pen while the crowd evaluated and shouting could be heard throughout the pavilion.
"It seems overwhelming, but eventually you hear people bid," Rufer said. "You start to smile knowing you're doing well."
In the swine category, Bethany Drafall's 285-pound Supreme Champion sold for $5.35 per pound, a total of $1,524.75, to Pearl City Elevator. The Reserve Supreme shown by Grant Grossen at 284 pounds was sold for $5 per pound, a total of $1,420, to Klitzke Tank and Trailer. Sarah Strathman's 283-pound Champion carcass sold to Speich Oil Inc. for $1,273.50 at $4.50 per pound. At 273 pounds, the Reserve Champion carcass by Tess Nafzger was sold to Monroe Truck Equipment for $4 per pound, a total of $1,092.
For sheep, Jacen Wilinski's Champion 133-pound lamb sold for $12 per pound, or $1,596 to Colony Brands. At 18, Wilinski celebrated another year showing a Grand Champion sheep at the fair, having won the title in 2015 as well.
Colin Novak showed the Reserve Champion, a 147-pound sheep which sold for $4 per pound to Badger State Ethanol, a total of $588. Madelyn Huschitt's 142-pound Grand Champion carcass went to the Huschitt Family for $12 per pound for a total of $1,704. Woller showed a lamb in addition to his turkey, and won Reserve Champion carcass for the 110-pound sheep. It was sold to Klondike Farms for $4 per pound, a total of $440.
Lambs brought in a total of $17,794.75 in sales, a bump from the total of $11,035.15 last year. However, the average price per pound was $4.35, lower than the $5.08 average in 2015.
Alexa Bader, 14, could not pull a third Grand Champion steer at the fair this year but still snagged the second spot at Reserve Champion with her 1,318-pound show animal, which went for $3.10 per pound, a total of $4,085.80 to Badger State Ethanol. Aspen Bader showed the Grand Champion, a 1,420-pound steer that sold for $5 per pound to Pioneer Seed, a total of $7,100.
Traiten Gorr's 1,446-pound steer carcass won Grand Champion carcass, an award he won at last year's fair. It was sold to Pleasant Grain at $3.70 per pound, a total of $5,350.20. The Reserve Champion carcass was presented by Nathan Nickels at 1,392 pounds and sold to Monroe Westfalia Surge at $5 per pound, the total sale was $6,960.
Steer sales totaled $127,383.15, down from the $154,655.90 total in 2015. The average price was also lower this year at $2.67 per pound while the average price was $2.86 per pound last year.
In the stock pavilion of the fairgrounds, the Fur and Feather auction began at 10 a.m. with poultry and rabbits held on display. Large fans blew dusty, hot air around the bleachers where buyers sat anticipating the perfect animal to bid on while others stood in between seeking the same.
Daniel Dunphy stood holding his Reserve Champion turkey as the bids jumped from $200 to the low $700s and finally sold for $850, outselling the seven other birds in the pen by $500 or more. The second highest-selling turkey was raised by Marley Malkow and went to Brooklyn Rolling Green Dairy for $350. The Champion turkey was shown by Alan Woller, and was purchased by Powers Auction Service for $275.
In his first year of showing, Dunphy watched the bidding war over his bird with a smile bursting on his cheeks as he displayed the large bird's white wings proudly. The 9-year-old from Albany was excited and admitted no nervousness while standing before the sea of eyes in the stands of the pavilion. He added that he enjoyed caring for the turkey over the past year.
"They're funny animals," Dunphy said. "They have a funny personality."
Alexa Marty of Monroe fell on the other side of success with her market rabbit, which went for $150 to Teresa Zimmer. At 16, Marty said she has been raising rabbits for seven years, through 4-H and through the FFA. Last year, her rabbit sold for over $400, but she was still happy with the 2016 results.
"There are a lot fewer buyers this year," Marty said. "But that amount is still good for a rabbit."
Marty added that the interest from buyers shows she handled the bunny with care and displayed a healthy animal, despite the drop in numbers.
Overall the Fur and Feather Auction dropped dramatically in totals compared to the record 2015 year. The total of the auction was $17,090 this year, down nearly $10,000 from its proceeds last year, and more than $6,000 less than in 2014.
The Champion set of chickens shown by 10-year-old Alana Durtschi in her second year of showing sold for $450 to JAS Farms. Libby Maclean showed the pair of Reserve Champion roasters, which sold for $275 to Beck Design.
For the ducks, 18-year-old Malkow showed the champion pair, which were sold to Jeff Malkow for $350. The Reserve Champion was shown by Andrew Blumer, who sold his pair of ducks to the Drafall Family for $175.
The Champion rabbit was shown by Emily Makos and was purchased for $200 by Cal Schaver Auctions. Nicholas Mavueus had the Reserve Champion rabbit, which went for $175 to Beach Auction Service.
Jeb Beck showed his cross-bred rabbit during the fair and fetched the same number as last year, $250 for the animal. He also showed a pig in the Livestock Auction, which followed in the pavilion at 12:30 p.m. Saturday.
Beck of the Dayton Dairylanders 4-H, said he has been showing hogs for four years. At 16, he has some experience guiding the animal with switch in hand, but said it has not gotten easier knowing he is in the spotlight.
"Being up there, I don't know how to explain it," Beck said. "I get really nervous. But I do all right. I really like coming to the fair and seeing all of the people."
Beck said it has been a success so far, and that he intends to keep showing animals as long as he can. He was happy with the rabbit results, the animal going to Klitzman Seed LLC. His 270-pound hog went for $3.50 for a total sale of $945 to Evansville FFA Alumni.
Swine sales totaled $86,367.15. The average auction sale for all pigs was $3.91 per pound. The total swine sales total in 2015 was $106,123.45 and the average sale of all pigs was $4.73 per pound.
Reece Rufer showed a cross-bred pig. The 280-pound animal went to Abracadabra Limo Co. for $3.75 per pound. Rufer took home a total of $1,050 for the hog. Rufer said he has seen similar totals for pigs he has raised over the last four years he has shown them. At 14, the showman from Monticello displayed little trouble leading the animal around the pen while the crowd evaluated and shouting could be heard throughout the pavilion.
"It seems overwhelming, but eventually you hear people bid," Rufer said. "You start to smile knowing you're doing well."
In the swine category, Bethany Drafall's 285-pound Supreme Champion sold for $5.35 per pound, a total of $1,524.75, to Pearl City Elevator. The Reserve Supreme shown by Grant Grossen at 284 pounds was sold for $5 per pound, a total of $1,420, to Klitzke Tank and Trailer. Sarah Strathman's 283-pound Champion carcass sold to Speich Oil Inc. for $1,273.50 at $4.50 per pound. At 273 pounds, the Reserve Champion carcass by Tess Nafzger was sold to Monroe Truck Equipment for $4 per pound, a total of $1,092.
For sheep, Jacen Wilinski's Champion 133-pound lamb sold for $12 per pound, or $1,596 to Colony Brands. At 18, Wilinski celebrated another year showing a Grand Champion sheep at the fair, having won the title in 2015 as well.
Colin Novak showed the Reserve Champion, a 147-pound sheep which sold for $4 per pound to Badger State Ethanol, a total of $588. Madelyn Huschitt's 142-pound Grand Champion carcass went to the Huschitt Family for $12 per pound for a total of $1,704. Woller showed a lamb in addition to his turkey, and won Reserve Champion carcass for the 110-pound sheep. It was sold to Klondike Farms for $4 per pound, a total of $440.
Lambs brought in a total of $17,794.75 in sales, a bump from the total of $11,035.15 last year. However, the average price per pound was $4.35, lower than the $5.08 average in 2015.
Alexa Bader, 14, could not pull a third Grand Champion steer at the fair this year but still snagged the second spot at Reserve Champion with her 1,318-pound show animal, which went for $3.10 per pound, a total of $4,085.80 to Badger State Ethanol. Aspen Bader showed the Grand Champion, a 1,420-pound steer that sold for $5 per pound to Pioneer Seed, a total of $7,100.
Traiten Gorr's 1,446-pound steer carcass won Grand Champion carcass, an award he won at last year's fair. It was sold to Pleasant Grain at $3.70 per pound, a total of $5,350.20. The Reserve Champion carcass was presented by Nathan Nickels at 1,392 pounds and sold to Monroe Westfalia Surge at $5 per pound, the total sale was $6,960.
Steer sales totaled $127,383.15, down from the $154,655.90 total in 2015. The average price was also lower this year at $2.67 per pound while the average price was $2.86 per pound last year.