DETROIT, Mich.  - Top bids were received for prize livestock raised by 4-H and FFA members during the annual Youth Livestock Auction on Wednesday, September 2, 2009, at the Michigan State Fair in Detroit. Michigan Department of Agriculture (MDA) Director Don Koivisto assisted on the auction floor. The 2008 youth auction gross sales were over $69,000.

Meijer, Inc. was the top purchaser - spending over $16,000 to purchase six lots, including the grand and reserve grand champion steers, and reserve grand champion pair of market lambs. Binson Hospital Supplies also purchased six lots totaling $9,850 including the grand champion pair of steers and the grand champion pair of hogs. Kowalski Sausage Company purchased the grand and reserve champion market hogs as well as the reserve grand champion pair of market hogs; while Wolverine Packing Company purchased the grand and reserve grand champion market lambs.

Since 2000, the Michigan Youth Livestock Scholarship Fund has granted more than $260,000 in educational awards and scholarships. The 2009 scholarship winners of $1,500 are Shanna Acker of Middleton; Aaron Balowski of Coldwater; Justin Kennedy of Nashville; Ryan Smoes of Hamilton; and Patricia Vaassen of Ann Arbor.
Purchasers and sale prices of the top animals included:

- Grand Champion market steer, exhibited by Adam AcMoody of Union City, purchased by the Meijer, Inc. for $10,000.
- Grand Champion market lamb, exhibited by Nathan Smoker of Bronson, purchased by Wolverine Packing Company for $2,500.
- Grand Champion market hog, exhibited by Brandon Ford of Brown City, purchased by Kowalski Sausage Company for $3,500.
- Grand Champion market goat, exhibited by Payton Hines, purchased by North America Midway Entertainment for $2,500.
- Reserve Grand Champion market steer, exhibited by Kimberly Doneth of Durand, purchased by Meijer, Inc. for $3,000.
- Reserve Grand Champion market lamb, exhibited by Adam AcMoody of Union City, purchased by the Wolverine Packing Company for $1,550. 
- Reserve Grand Champion market hog, exhibited by Marie Bennett of Sturgis, purchased by Kowalski Sausage Company for $2,000.
- Reserve Grand Champion market goat, exhibited by William Christmas of Eaton Rapids, purchased by Boyer's Meat Processing for $1,250.
- Grand Champion pair of market steers, exhibited by Hank Rues of Petersburg, purchased by Binson Hospital Supplies for $3,000.
- Grand Champion pair of market lambs, exhibited by Kelsey AcMoody of Union City, purchased by Michigan Farm Bureau employees for $1,250.
- Grand Champion pair of market hogs, exhibited by Brady Littlefield of Burr Oak, purchased by Binson Hospital Supplies for $1,750.
- Reserve Grand Champion pair of market steers, exhibited by Brad and Bryant Chapman of South Rockwood, purchased by Michigan Farm Bureau for $2,750.
- Reserve Grand Champion pair of market lambs, exhibited by Karen Wells of Monroe, purchased by Meijer, Inc. for $1,000.
- Reserve Grand Champion pair of market hogs, exhibited by Brandon Ford of Brown City, purchased by Kowalski Sausage Company for $1,500.

Also auctioned were award-winning wines, butter, milk, and cheese. The wine basket - full of top winners from the Michigan Wine and Spirits Competition - were sold to Binson Hospital Supplies.  United Dairy Industry of Michigan purchased the Grand Champion butter and milk; and the Grand Champion cheese was purchased by the Michigan Milk Producers Association.

MDA employees, participating in their 13th auction, purchased a "spotlight" market lamb, exhibited by Kelsey Sattler of Parma and a "spotlight" market hog from Kenton Klingaman of Tekonsha . Processing proceeds will be donated to the Food Bank Council of Michigan, the Michigan Youth Livestock Scholarship Fund and the Capucin Kitchen.

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