The attendance and level of generosity at the annual livestock sale pleased organizers, during one of the biggest events of the final day of the Bartholomew County 4-H Fair.
With 245 animals scheduled for auction Saturday, the number of bidders and observers fluctuated throughout the morning and early afternoon, fair board member Annie Romine said. But one hour after the sale started in the 4-H Pavilion, Romine counted 111 returning bidders, and 14 new individuals or businesses, wanting to purchase livestock.
“It was a good representation not only from Bartholomew, but also from surrounding or nearby counties,” Romine said.
All total, 252 animals were sold and $255,686 raised — a figure that was down by about $1,700 from last year. However, a long-established group known as the “Friends of 4-H” did its part to make sure bidding and sales remained healthy.
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Essentially a mix of individuals and businesses who pool their money together, the “Friends” designate one person to strategically make bids where they most benefit the 4-H members, auctioneer Mike Mensendiek told more than 200 people prior to the start of the auction.
Romine counted 33 different individuals or businesses listed as “Friends of 4-H” at 9 a.m. More contributors were expected to make donations later in the day, she said.
A time to profit
One of the most successful 4-H members during the auction was 18-year-old Jake O’Connor. The grand champion barrow that the Columbus East High School senior raised was purchased by Southern Indiana OBGYN for $4,400 — nearly 42 times the market value.
O’Connor also raised the grand champion heifer, but he decided not to auction off the cow Saturday.
“It’s been a great week,” the son of Albert and Kim O’Connor said. “Besides having a lot of success, I’ve also had a lot of fun out here. I don’t really see a lot of (livestock exhibitors) throughout the year, but this week, we’ve been hanging out all the time.”
Another of the top 4-H competitors was Nichole Paetzel, the daughter of Jeff and Adora Paetzel. Her grand champion beef steer sold for $3,600 — more than three times its market value.
A 17-year-old student at Hauser High School, Paetzel is the sister is Brad Paetzel, who took the grand champion honors in the beef steer category during the previous two years, but completed his 10th and final year in 4-H last year.
While the grand champions get most of the attention, many 4-H members who didn’t win ribbons or banners still make a nice profit for their livestock efforts.
For example, Nathaniel John, 17, said he got into raising chickens nine years ago because his father, Matt John, is the leader of the Feathered Friends Poultry Club. The teen’s mother is Debbie Comstock-John.
When he was younger, Nathaniel John considered caring for poultry as a unpleasant chore, he said. However, his attitude changed as he observed his savings account grow every year after each auction, John said.
This year, the Columbus Signature Academy — New Tech High School student used his savings to purchase his first car, a 2007 Pontiac G6 GT.
“I wouldn’t have been able to buy my car if it weren’t for this auction,” John said.
Henry Sims, a 13-year-old Central Middle School student, said it is his choice to continue saving his profits for college during his remaining five years he has in 4-H. The son of Chad and Debbie Sims said his 99-pound market lamb sold for just over $1,000 — almost 10 times the market price.
Lauren Steinwedel said she and her parents, Matt and Jennifer Steinwedel, have an understanding about the $1,100 that she received for her 150-pound sheep. The animal had a market value of $195.
While most of the profit will go into a college savings account, the 17-year-old Columbus East High School student said some funds will help reimburse her parents for animal feed.
“But I do get 10 percent to spend on my own,” said Steinwedel, who added she was more than content with that arrangement.
Support appreciated
While the annual livestock auction is for the benefit of the 4-H club members, the bidders said they appreciate how their support is respected.
Brad Bennett, with Country Chevrolet in North Vernon, said he was not in 4-H himself, but is proud that Saturday marked his 15th year as a bidder.
“I was born and raised here in Columbus, and we have a lot of good customers from Bartholomew County,” Bennett said. “But my greatest satisfaction comes from helping the kids and the community.”
Kristen Whittington, a local businesswoman with Landmark Enterprises/Landmark Farms of Columbus, is known for shelling out thousands of dollars every year for a 5-gallon bucket of homemade vanilla ice cream.
Whittington said she pays the high amount for the dessert because it all goes into the Vicki Schwartzkopf Scholarship Fund. Whittington was one of the first recipients of the scholarship established after a car accident killed the 18-year-old Schwartzkopf on June 15, 1984. She said she feels an obligation to help other girls the same way she was helped.
The Bartholomew County Young Farmers matched the $2,000 paid by Whittington for the ice cream that was made by members of the Bartholomew County Rural Youth organization.
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Top Bartholomew County 4-H Livestock Auction sale prices (in order of earnings):
Grand Champion Barrow: raised by Jake O’Connor; weighed 276 pounds; $105 market value; $4,400 sale price. Buyer: Southern Indiana OBGYN, Columbus.
Grand Champion Beef Steer: raised by Nichole Paetzel; weighed 1,190 pounds; $1,226 market value; $3,600 sale price. Buyer: Robertson Paving of Flat Rock and Shelby Materials of Columbus.
Grand Champion Dairy Steer: raised by Abbigail Schiefer; weighed 1,547 pounds; $1,238 market value; $2,600 sale price. Buyer: Halderman Farm Management & Real Estate Services of Wabash and Columbus Industrial Electric, Inc.
Bartholomew County Young Farmers Ice Cream: No market value; $2,000 sale price. Buyer: Landmark Enterprises LLC / Landmark Farms, Columbus.
Grand Champion Market Goat: raised by Andrea Bair; weighed 97 pounds; $243 market value; $1,200 sale price. Buyer: Brown County State Park Saddle Barn.
Grand Champion Rabbit Meat Pen: raised by Elijah Harrison; no market value; $700 sale price. Buyer: Daily Feed & Grain Inc. of Columbus.
Grand Champion Poultry Meat Pen: raised by Charles Claycamp; no market value; $600 sale price. Buyer: Innovative Castings Technologies, Inc., Franklin.
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2019: $255,686
2018: $257,420
2017: $271,671
2016: $264,097
2015: $310,304
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All 4-H projects will be released today between 11 a.m. and 1 p.m.
Every exhibit must be picked up, and no projects will be brought back to the office, according to 4-H officials.
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