August 25, 2004 - The 2004 Auction of Junior Livestock Champions at the Michigan State Fair (MSF) was an unprecedented success, raising $202,650 – the highest amount ever in the 60-years+ history of the event – and setting a record for the amount garnered for the Grand Champion Steer – a whopping $46,000, according to Michigan Department of Agriculture (MDA) Director Dan Wyant. 

“A hearty kudos to our tenacious bid spotter Governor Jennifer Granholm, our supportive corporate and private buyers, and our hard-working youth exhibitors for all of their efforts,” Wyant said. “This event showcases our youth, who represent the future face of Michigan’s food and agriculture industry, and the strong sense of community that can be generated.”

This year’s auction kicked off after the annual Governor's Luncheon on the fairgrounds. Governor Granholm served as a bid “spotter” during the auction.

Wyant noted that many Michigan companies and organizations including Farmer Jack, the Kowalski Sausage Company, The Kroger Company, Meijer, Inc., Michigan Farm Bureau, Smithfield Beef Group and Wolverine Packing Company, helped smashed many of the prior champion records.

2004 exhibitors, purchasers and sale prices of livestock judged to be the best in the state are:

• Grand Champion market steer, exhibited by Sarah Williams of Clifford, purchased by the Farmer Jack for $46,000 (new MSF record);
• Grand Champion market hog, exhibited by Nichol Braden of Byron, purchased by The Kroger Company, for $14,000;
• Grand Champion market lamb, exhibited by Jacob Patterson of Lapeer, purchased by Farmer Jack, for $27,000 (new MSF record);
• Reserve Grand Champion market steer, exhibited by Ryan Smoes of Hamilton, purchased by the Smithfield Beef Group for $15,000 (new MSF record);
• Reserve Grand Champion market hog, exhibited by Kristine Kaechele of Alto, purchased by  Meijer, Inc. for $8,000;
• Reserve Grand Champion market lamb, exhibited by Ashley Gordeneer of Vermontville, purchased by The Kroger Company for $15,000 (new MSF record);
• Grand Champion pair of market steers, exhibited by Jake Leslie of Decker, purchased by Smithfield Beef Group for $7,500;
• Grand Champion pair of market hogs, exhibited by Brice Bushre of Wheeler, purchased Kowalski Sausage Company for $4,000;
• Grand Champion pair of market lambs, exhibited by Morgan AcMoody of Union City, purchased by Farmer Jack for $5,000;
• Reserve Grand Champion pair of market steers, exhibited by Brent and Michelle Dickenson of Montgomery; purchased by Smithfield for $7,500 (new MSF record);
• Reserve Grand Champion pair of market hogs, exhibited by Austin Joostbern of Dorr, purchased by Michigan Farm Bureau for $3,900; and
• Reserve Grand Champion pair of market lambs, exhibited by Lindsey Lungren of Sunfield, purchased by Wolverine Packing Company for $5,000 (new MSF record).

Prior successes of the livestock auction have dramatically increased youth participation at the Michigan State Fair. This year, more than 400 youth competed in livestock events and nearly 200 youth competed in skill-a-thon that included a livestock quiz, showmanship and judging. A statewide showmanship contest also featured 84 youth representing 30 counties.

The MSF auction also features the Michigan Youth Livestock Scholarship Fund, which is generated by the proceeds of bid surpassing pre-determined sales caps. 2004 recipients are: Douglas Albright of Coldwater; Evan Boehmer of Olivet; Nicole Dingman of Bellevue; Kate Mills of Imlay City; Scott Smalley of Ubly; Hannah Sterrett of Jackson; and Todd Wolff of Bronson. The MYLSF also granted $21,000 in educational awards to more than 110 youth livestock exhibitors in the skill-a-thon competition. Since its creation in 2000, the MYLSF has granted a total of $123,000 in educational awards and scholarships.

Also auctioned were the MSF champion wines, butter, milk and cheese. A selection of Gold Medal Wines sold for $2,000 to the Kroger Company and Boyer Meats for $3,900. Green Stone Farm Credit purchased the Grand Champion Butter for $1,600; United Dairy Industry of Michigan purchased the Grand Champion Milk for $2,000; and the Grand Champion Cheese sold for $1,600 to the Michigan Milk Producers Association. 

Michigan Department of Agriculture employees, participating in their ninth auction, purchased two “spotlight” hogs exhibited by Ben Vannier of Tekonsha for $1,200 and Andrew Williams of Cassopolis for $1,000. Processing proceeds will be donated to the Food Bank Council of Michigan. 

The Michigan State Fair, the nation’s first fair, ran from Aug. 11 to 22. 

See an online photo gallery of the winners, and more!

**EDITOR’S NOTE: Photos of the youth with their prize-winning livestock and the top wines and dairy products with their exhibitors and buyers are available electronically upon request.