ST. PAUL, Minn. — Quality animals, quality kids and quality buyers made the 44th 4-H Purple Ribbon Auction. The annual parade of champion beef, lambs, goats, swine and poultry set 14 new record prices. This year the 4-H Purple Ribbon Auction went over $1.2 million in additional premium dollars from 115 head for Minnesota 4-H youth and Animal Science programs. A huge thank you for all of the sponsors throughout the whole state in support of the exhibitors.
The Champion Market Beef Steer was the Champion Crossbred Division III Steer, shown by Ethan Evenson of Faribault County. Ames Construction once again had the successful bid of $60,000 for a new Minnesota record price. The Reserve Champion Market Beef was the Reserve Champion Crossbred Division III Steer shown by Aubrey Kerkaert of Pipestone County. Cemstone made the record bid of $44,500 to purchase the steer.
American Foods Group, Central Livestock Association, and O&S Cattle Company came together for a record-setting bid of $25,000 for this year’s Grand Champion Dairy Steer exhibited by Macy Mattson of Freeborn County. The Reserve Champion Dairy Steer shown by Jace Katzung of Steele County was purchased by the American Foods Group for $23,000, which set a new record.
This year’s Champion Crossbred Heavyweight Barrow was named Grand Champion Barrow for Carson Schneekloth of Jackson County. Cargill Animal Nutrition & Health, Hog Slat and Hormel & SVT Tiling worked together to purchase the barrow for $22,500 for a record price. The Reserve Champion Barrow was the Reserve Champion Crossbred Heavyweight shown by Macy Sonnek of Faribault County and was purchased for a record price of $19,900 by a purchasing group made up of Minnesota Farmers Union, Farmers Union Agency, Farmers Union Industries, and Alltech.
The Champion Market Gilt brought a record price of $19,000 for Alex Nielsen of Freeborn County when Cemstone made the purchase. The Reserve Champion Market Gilt exhibited by Carter Prins of Murray County brought Wakefield Pork and Swanson Meats together as they partnered with the final bid of $15,000.
The Grand Champion Market Lamb was the Champion Lightweight Lamb, shown by McCoy Marthaler of Lyon County. Minnesota Farmers Union Foundation, Farmers Union Agency, and Farmers Union Industries was the winning bidder for $13,000, setting a new record price. The Reserve Champion Market Lamb exhibited by Jerson Kopka of Renville County was the Champion Middleweight Lamb and brought a record price of $9,100 when the group of Hy-Vee, Minnesota Farmers Union Foundation, Farmers Union Agency, Farmers Union Industries, MN State Fair Concessionaires made the purchase.
Minnesota Farmers Union Foundation, Farmers Union Agency, and Farmers Union Industries made a bid of $8,700 to purchase the Grand Champion Market Meat Goat exhibited by Karina Erickson of Freeborn County. The Grand Champion Dairy Meat Goat was exhibited by Sam Becker of McLeod County and sold for $7,500 to Long Cheng Hmong Meats. Swanson Meats placed a bid of $7,250 for the Grand Champion Market Doe that was exhibited by Alyssa Kuethe of Freeborn County. The Reserve Champion Market Meat Goat was exhibited by Tegan Ridenour of Dodge County. Minnesota Farmers Union Foundation, Farmers Union Agency, Farmers Union Industries and Dodge County Purple Ribbon Club purchased the goat for $12,250 for a new record price.
The Grand Champion Pen of Chickens was exhibited by Samuel Marroquin Balderas of Martin County. Minnesota Farmers Union Foundation, Farmers Union Agency, and Farmers Union Industries partnered together to purchase the pen of chickens for a record price of $7,500. The Reserve Champion Pen of Chickens was purchased by Larry & Mark Peterson and Mower County Purple Ribbon Club for $5,800, which is a new record price. The pen of chickens was exhibited by Hannah Hecimovich of Mower County.
Minnesota Farmers Union Foundation, Farmers Union Agency, Farmers Union Industries, Divine House and Meeker County 4-H partnered together to purchase the Grand Champion Pen of Turkeys, exhibited by Gabriel Yanish of Meeker County, for a new record price of $14,650. The Reserve Champion Pen of Turkeys was exhibited by Kelly Knisley of Kandiyohi County. Jennie-O Turkey, MN Turkey Growers, and Divine House purchased the pen of turkeys for a record price of $10,150.
Proceeds from the 4-H Purple Ribbon Livestock Auction go to the winning 4-H youth and 20% of the funds are designated to further Minnesota 4-H, the Minnesota 4-H Foundation and the MLBA/4-H Auction Scholarships. Fifty-eight MLBA/4-H Purple Ribbon Livestock Auction Scholarships were awarded this year from the premiums received last year and matching dollars thanks to the generous support of: American Foods Group, Dick Boniface Memorial, Zinpro Corporation, CorTrust Bank, Von Hanson’s Meats, Boehringer-Ingelheim, Brian & Barbara Knudson, Ziegler Ag Equipment, Cemstone, Alltech, Chuck Christains Memorial sponsored by Family & Friends, O’Sullivan Cattle & O’Sullivan Auctioneers, Mouth Trap Cheese Curds, MN Farmers Union, AgCountry Farm Credit Services, Eric & Kristi Ruen, Corn Roast Concessions, Brad & Lori Ribar, Topigs Norsvin USA, Duke’s Poutine, Matt & Erin Ribar, LA-CO Industries, BankIn Minnesota, Protein Sources, John Schafer, Pronto Pups – The Karnis Family, MN Pork Board, Federated Co-ops Inc., Compeer Financial, Pipestone Grain Co., Carousel Foods, The Hanger, MN Association of Meat Producers, Mary & Don Weis, Hamilton Auction, Magnifi Financial, Interstate Power Systems, Schroder Concessions, Jolene & Gary Koch, MN Cattlewomen, Mary Bennett Kriva, Juanita Reed Boniface, Kent Thiesse & Steve Pooch, Strategic Pork Solutions, Jamie & Mark Pufeerst, Shanghaied Henri’s, MN Simmental Association, Big Gain, Bellingham Farmers Elevator, Midwest Machinery, HomeTown Credit Union, ProAg Farmers Cooperative, Gislason & Hunter LLP and Hormel Foods. The Minnesota 4-H Purple Ribbon Auction is sponsored by the Minnesota Livestock Breeders Association each year.
