SIDNEY — Livestock shows ended and sales began when hogs and rabbits went on the auction block, Friday morning at the 137th Shelby County Fair.
The sale of the reserve champion meat pen of rabbits broke a record that had stood since 2012. Eight buyers purchased Kara Gillman’s pen for $1,750. The record had been $1,400.
No other records were set during Friday’s sales. The standing record for grand champion hog is $10,100, set in 2015; for reserve champion hog, $10,300 set in 2015; for grand champion meat pen of rabbits, $3,400 set in 2014.
This year’s grand champion barrow was raised by Alexander Knouff, 15, son of Patrick and Jennifer Knouff, of Minster, who is a member of the Fort Loramie Livestock 4-H club. The hog weighed 267 pounds, and was sold for $1,900 to Allenbaugh Insurance, Shelby County Commissioner Tony Bornhorst, Custom Foam Produccts Inc., Eilerman-Nationwide Insurance Agency, Fertilizer Dealers Supply Inc., First Choice Excavation & Demolition, Gram & Gramps Agribusiness, Heins Show Pigs, Hemmelgarn Services Inc. Lotz Insurance Agency, Mary Rutan Hospital JC Family Care, Plastipak Packaging Inc., Provico Farm & Show Supply, Sunrise Cooperative Inc., US Bank, Wells Brothers Inc. and Mike and Jayne Knouff.
Knouff attributed his success with the hog to his family.
“We take care of our pigs all the same and try to make them the best we can, as a family. I have to thank my family, they’re always supporting me and helping me get to the barn and walk my pig,” he said. “My family is the greatest family in the world, and I love them so much.”
Knouff has been raising pigs for the fair for seven years, and this is his first grand champion. He plans to show at the Ohio State Fair next week.
Jana Metz, 10, daughter of Jeff and Andrea Metz, of Botkins and a member of Botkins Livestock 4-H club, has been showing hogs at the fair for three years. This year she raised the reserve grand champion barrow, which weighed 265 pounds and was sold for $2,825. She said she had not followed a new routine with the pig, but had shown some extra care.
“I just walk him every day,” she said. “The guy I got him said not to hit him, just guide.”
She said next year she may also raise chickens.
Bambauer Fertilizer & Seed of New Knoxville, Bornhorst Printing, Buckeye Ford Lincoln Mercury, Kent and Shelly Buehler, Shelby County Commissioner Julie Ehemann, Curly’s Custom Meats, Dickman Supply Inc., Donald A. Sommer Inc., Emerson Wagner Realty Inc., Fultz Flooring, H&W Trans Logistics of Jackson Center, Jeff Metz Construction, Troy Kies-Auctioneer/Realtor, Lacal Equipment, Bub and Janet Metz, Meyer’s Tavern, NAPA First Call Auto Parts, New Ag Horizons, Next Generation Kitchen & Bath, Shelby County Commissioner Robert Guillozet, Shaffer Show Cattle, Sidney Body Carstar, Silveus Crop Insurance, Vaubel Swine, Vondenhuevel Auction Service and Kinsella Auto Repair purchased the porker.
The grand champion gilt weighed 251 pounds and was sold for $7,175 to AG Boogher & Son Inc., Almost A Farm, Austin Regula Farms & Trucking, Brian and Terrie Egbert and Family, Farm Fresh First LLC, Fultz Flooring, H&W Transportation Logistics, MKM Farm, Mickie’s Greenhouse, PNC Bank, Schmerge Show Pigs, Silveus Crop Insurance, the Coverstone Family, the Jeff McGowan Family, Brett and Michele Meyer and Fry Family Farms.
Hunter Lenhart, 12, son of Aaron and Holly Lenhart, of Sidney and a member of Progressive Livestock 4-H, raised the prize-winning pig. In 2015, he raised the grand champion barrow and has been showing hogs for three years.
Landon Howell, 13, of Sidney, son of Jason and Jessica Howell, raised the reserve grand champion gilt, which weighed 238 pounds and sold for $1,125 to Alvetro Orthodontics, Bambauer Fertilizer & Seed of Jackson Center, Shelby County Commissioner Tony Bornhorst, Shelby County Commissioner Julie Ehemann, Cromes-Edwards Funeral Home & Crematory, Dan Hemm Automall, First Choice Excavation & Demolition LLC, Heins Show Pigs, Howell Family Farms, Howell Show Pigs, Troy Kies-Auctioneer/Realtor, Plastipak Packaging Inc., Provico Farm & Show Supply, Schafer Oil Co., Sidney Tire, Sunrise Cooperative Inc., US Bank, Vondenhuevel Auction Service, Wells Brothers Inc., Winner’s Stockyard and Aaron Heilers for State Representative.
Howell is a member of Anna Livestock 4-H club and is part of a long family history of pig farmers.
Carissa Fast, 10, of Fort Loramie and Fort Loramie 4-H club, raised the grand champion meat pen of rabbits. Carissa is the daughter of Dustin and Julie Fast and has been raising rabbits for two years.
“We didn’t do anything different from last year,” she said. “I plan on doing rabbits again next year.”
Her pen sold for $1,645 to Shelby County Auditor Amy Berning, Shelby County Commissioner Tony Bornhorst, Tim and Jill Burden, Shelby County Clerk of Courts Michele Mumford, Shelby County Commissioner Julie Ehemann, Custom Foam Products Inc. E&P Rabbitry, Dan and Kris Geise, Matt Huffman for Senate, Meyer’s Garage & Drive-Thru, Mutual Federal Savings Bank, Plastipak Packaging Inc., Rapid Development, Shelby County Commissioner Robert Guillozet, Schafer Oil Co., Shelby County Republican Party, Sidney Body Carstar, Shelby County Common Pleas Judge Jim Stevenson, Wagner’s IGA Market, Wells Brothers Inc., J&J Rabbitry, Phil Stone, Aaron Heilers for State Representative, BEK Farms Club Lams and Goats and the Crazy Redhead Canteen.
Kara Gillman, 18, of Sidney and Adventures 4-H club, raised the reserve champion meat pen. This is her last year of 4-H, and she has been raising rabbits for 10 years. She won grand champion single fryer in 2016.
“It is a good way to end 4-H,” she said. “We were very fortunate, and we breed our own so I guess we’re just lucky.”
Buyers were Alvetro Orhtodontics, Bambauer Fertilizer & Seed of Pemberton, Panel Control Inc., Pullins Drainage, Schafer Oil co., Sidney Ace Hardware, Sorensen Insurance Agency and Wells Brothers Inc.
The grand champion single fryer was raised by Jenna Batton, 12, of Sidney and Successful 4-H club. She is the daughter of John and Kristen Batton and has been raising rabbits for two years.
“I bought him off the Gillmans,” she said. “Last year we didn’t.”
Her rabbit weighed 9.7 pounds and sold for $800 to Detailed Machining and the Shelby County Republican Party.
Myles Platfoot, 11, of Maplewood and Progressive Livestock 4-H club, raised the reserve grand champion single fryer. His parents are Scott and Cathy Platfoot, and his rabbit weighed 10.4 pounds. It sold for $1,200 to Buckey Bid.
