MONROE - The Green County Dairy Youth Recognition Auction brought in nearly $14,000 Sunday, July 21, at the fairgrounds.
UW Extension Agriculture Agent Mark Mayer called the auction "outstanding" this year. Bidders outdid themselves, breaking the 2011 record of $13,500 by $450.
Aaron Nimtz, with his low somatic cell count cow, caught the highest bid at $1,725 from Klondike Cheese Company, Monroe.
The five-year-old cow had a cell count of just 16,700.
Cell counts indicate the amount of infection in a cow, which would affect her milk. The lower the cell count, the better the milk. A count must be under 100,000 to be acceptable.
Nimtz is a member of the New Glarus 4-H and the son of Jeff and Julie Nimtz.
Brooks Hendrickson, Dayton Dairylanders 4-H, with his Supreme Senior Champion registered female, brought in one of the next highest bids. Middleton Machining took home the honor of his recognition for $1,500. Hendrickson is the son of Jeff and Kate Hendrickson.
Brooks Hendrickson was also the Senior Showmanship winner. His showmanship honors went to Green Pastures Veterinary Service for $1,250. Hendrickson is a last-time senior at the Junior Fair.
Brian McCullough, Spring Grove Honest Workers 4-H, also brought in $1,500 as the Beginning Showmanship winner. Mahlkuch Electric captured his award. McCullough is the son of Chris and Kathie McCullough.
Jenna Sweeney, Decatur 4-H, pulled in $1,400 from Colony Brands for her Supreme Junior Champion grade female. Sweeney is the daughter of Paul and Tammy Sweeney.
Mitchell Dammen, Dougherty Creek 4-H, was the Intermediate Showmanship winner. Vic Tollakson Pioneer bid $1,400 to win his honors. Dammen is the son of Gary and Amy Dammen.
One more company bid $1,400. Framvale Farms took home the honors of the Supreme Sportsmanship Champion, Andrea McGowan, Pecatonica FFA. She is the daughter of Rolly and Patty McGowan. The Supreme Sportsmanship Champion is judged on lifetime achievements to win a spot in the Dairy Recognition auction.
Leslie Pryce, Decatur 4-H, brought in $1,325 for her Supreme Junior Champion grade female. Roger Brugger of Renk Seeds took the honors. Pryce is the daughter of Dan and Teri Pryce.
Supreme Showmanship Champion, John Klossner, New Glarus 4-H, got $1,250 for his recognition, bid by the New Glarus FFA Alumni. This was Klossner's last year in the Junior Fair. He is the son of Richard and Roxanne Klossner.
The honors of Rachel McCullough, Spring Grove Honest Workers 4-H, for her Supreme Junior Champion registered female went to Mahlkuch Electric for $1,200. McCullough is the daughter of Chris and Kathie McCullough.
The Youth Dairy Recognition Auction highlights the accomplishments of the youth. The highest bidder in each category receives a crystal plaque to display the participant's achievements, inscribed with the youth's and buyer's names.
Mayer said the money bidders spent "goes back to the community and to the kids."
The auction program last year awarded eight scholarships. The program has supported scholarships for the past 10 years, totaling about $25,000, according to Mayer. The same amount of money has gone to the participants for their winning efforts.
The program also supports many dairy-related fair projects. Mayer noted the improvements to the dairy barn facilities and milking units in the milk house. The program has contributed $4,000 to the fair in the past two years and sponsors the Hospitality Tent, where the Dairy Youth Recognition and Cheese auctions take place.
The community support for the future of dairy youth has increased dramatically, Mayer said. Recognition bids in the early years were about $500 each.
"And it wouldn't happen without the volunteers," he said. "Most people don't realize the number of volunteers who work to make the fair happen."
UW Extension Agriculture Agent Mark Mayer called the auction "outstanding" this year. Bidders outdid themselves, breaking the 2011 record of $13,500 by $450.
Aaron Nimtz, with his low somatic cell count cow, caught the highest bid at $1,725 from Klondike Cheese Company, Monroe.
The five-year-old cow had a cell count of just 16,700.
Cell counts indicate the amount of infection in a cow, which would affect her milk. The lower the cell count, the better the milk. A count must be under 100,000 to be acceptable.
Nimtz is a member of the New Glarus 4-H and the son of Jeff and Julie Nimtz.
Brooks Hendrickson, Dayton Dairylanders 4-H, with his Supreme Senior Champion registered female, brought in one of the next highest bids. Middleton Machining took home the honor of his recognition for $1,500. Hendrickson is the son of Jeff and Kate Hendrickson.
Brooks Hendrickson was also the Senior Showmanship winner. His showmanship honors went to Green Pastures Veterinary Service for $1,250. Hendrickson is a last-time senior at the Junior Fair.
Brian McCullough, Spring Grove Honest Workers 4-H, also brought in $1,500 as the Beginning Showmanship winner. Mahlkuch Electric captured his award. McCullough is the son of Chris and Kathie McCullough.
Jenna Sweeney, Decatur 4-H, pulled in $1,400 from Colony Brands for her Supreme Junior Champion grade female. Sweeney is the daughter of Paul and Tammy Sweeney.
Mitchell Dammen, Dougherty Creek 4-H, was the Intermediate Showmanship winner. Vic Tollakson Pioneer bid $1,400 to win his honors. Dammen is the son of Gary and Amy Dammen.
One more company bid $1,400. Framvale Farms took home the honors of the Supreme Sportsmanship Champion, Andrea McGowan, Pecatonica FFA. She is the daughter of Rolly and Patty McGowan. The Supreme Sportsmanship Champion is judged on lifetime achievements to win a spot in the Dairy Recognition auction.
Leslie Pryce, Decatur 4-H, brought in $1,325 for her Supreme Junior Champion grade female. Roger Brugger of Renk Seeds took the honors. Pryce is the daughter of Dan and Teri Pryce.
Supreme Showmanship Champion, John Klossner, New Glarus 4-H, got $1,250 for his recognition, bid by the New Glarus FFA Alumni. This was Klossner's last year in the Junior Fair. He is the son of Richard and Roxanne Klossner.
The honors of Rachel McCullough, Spring Grove Honest Workers 4-H, for her Supreme Junior Champion registered female went to Mahlkuch Electric for $1,200. McCullough is the daughter of Chris and Kathie McCullough.
The Youth Dairy Recognition Auction highlights the accomplishments of the youth. The highest bidder in each category receives a crystal plaque to display the participant's achievements, inscribed with the youth's and buyer's names.
Mayer said the money bidders spent "goes back to the community and to the kids."
The auction program last year awarded eight scholarships. The program has supported scholarships for the past 10 years, totaling about $25,000, according to Mayer. The same amount of money has gone to the participants for their winning efforts.
The program also supports many dairy-related fair projects. Mayer noted the improvements to the dairy barn facilities and milking units in the milk house. The program has contributed $4,000 to the fair in the past two years and sponsors the Hospitality Tent, where the Dairy Youth Recognition and Cheese auctions take place.
The community support for the future of dairy youth has increased dramatically, Mayer said. Recognition bids in the early years were about $500 each.
"And it wouldn't happen without the volunteers," he said. "Most people don't realize the number of volunteers who work to make the fair happen."