By HOLLY GASKILL 

and RYAN WALKER

Over $200,000 in sales were registered Thursday during the annual auction.

On top of this, $19,900 was raised for the Wells County 4-H Foundation. Of this total, $17,300 was raised for the Feeding Tomorrow’s Future Today, also known as the Backpack Program — double what had been raised last year. 

Makenzie Fuess (middle), daughter of Joye and Rob Fuess, sold her Grand Champion Meat Bird, Champion Broiler to Dan Nelson (left) and Laura Nelson (right). Fuess is a 10-year 4-H member. (Photos by Ryan Walker)

The single most expensive lot of the evening was Kayla Kiefer’s 230-lb. market gilt pig, which was bought by 26 buyers for $6,125. It was purchased by Alliance Energy Services, Bergquist Ind., Bluffton Animal Clinic, BR Fuel Services, Bumgarner Trucking, the Dr. Harry Brickley Farm Foundation, Farmers & Merchants, Felger Electric Generators, First Bank of Berne, Flash Point Energy, Franger Gas, Halderman Real Estate and Farm Management, Mitchel Enterprises, National ECO Energy, National Oil & Gas, PT Risk Management, Quality Steel, Ray Energy, Reed Farms, Scott and Emily Miller, Selking International, Shelton Financial Group, Ben Burman State Farm, Truland Equipment and Yoder Grain.

Madelyn Platt, daughter of Amy and Jim Platt, sold her Reserve Grand Champion Meat Bird, Champion Roaster, to Black Creek Contracting, represented by Adam Kiel (left), and Prible Ag, represented by Cindy Prible.

Category champions and reserve champions sold at the auction, and the purchasers, were as follows:

Premiere Auction

• Samantha Evans, grand champion alfalfa, $1,450: BR Fuel Services, Dr. Harry Brickley Farm Foundation, Farmers & Merchants State Bank, First Bank of Berne, First Merchants Bank, Halderman Real Estate & Farm Management, Halderman Real Estate & Farm Management, Helena Chemical, Lee & Danielle Werling, Mounsey Farms Inc, National Oil & Gas, Inc. and Truland.

Nathan Bauermeister, son of Terry and Lori Bauermeister, sold his Reserve Champion Roaster to Bunge and Echo Community, represented by Rhonda and Dave Flesch, at left, and Stephanie Fawcett with baby Hazel, at right. Also pictured are 4-H Ambassadors Chayson Brown and Marianne Pease.

• Clark Evans, reserve grand champion alfalfa, $1,100: BR Fuel Services, Dettmer Enterprises, Dr. Harry Brickley Farm Foundation, Farmers & Merchants State Bank, First Bank of Berne, First Merchants Bank, Halderman Real Estate & Farm Management, Halderman Real Estate & Farm Management, Helena Chemical, Lee & Danielle Werling, National Oil & Gas, Inc. and Red Line Equipment.

Chloe Ferguson, daughter of Mike and Brandi Ferguson, sold her Reserve Champion Broiler to Bunge and Echo Community, represented by Rhonda and Dave Flesch, at left, and Stephanie Fawcett and Shelby Todd with baby Hazel, at right. Also pictured are 4-H Ambassadors Chayson Brown and Marianne Pease.

• Emma Fey, grand champion beekeeping, $450: Huffman Real Estate Group.

• Ella Wheeler, grand champion beekeeping, $600: Dr. Harry Brickley Farm Foundation, Halderman Real Estate & Farm Management, Mounsey Family Farms LLC, and The News-Banner.

Kole Kiefer son of Eric and Angela Kiefer, sold his Champion Turkey to BR Fuel Services, represented by Brady Ripple; Yoder Grain represented by Josh Fiechter; the Dr. Harry Brickley Farm Foundation and Halderman Real Estate represented by Rick Johnloz; Jason Johnloz, Truland Equipment represented by Rob Hoover; the First Bank of Berne, represented by Dustin Arnold, and Alliance Energy Services, Farmers & Merchants State Bank, Felger Electric Generators, Flash Point Energy, Franger Gas Co, National ECO Energy, National Oil & Gas, PT Risk Management, Quality Steel, Ray Energy, Selking International, Shelton Financial, and State Farm Ben Burman.

• Corban Wheeler, reserve grand champion beekeeping, $500: Dr. Harry Brickley Farm Foundation, Halderman Real Estate & Farm Management and Mounsey Farms Inc.

Case Boxell, son of Nathan and Lisa Boxell, sold his Grand Champion Meat Pen to First Bank of Berne, represented by Dustin Arnols (at left), Lehman Feed Mill, Power-Up Electric and Truland Equipment, represented by Rob Hoover. Also pictured is 4-H Ambassadors Chayson Brown and Marianne Pease.

• Audrey Breunig, advanced champion cake decorating, $375: Baker Farms GP, Dr. Harry Brickley Farm Foundation, Halderman Real Estate & Farm Management and Mounsey Family Farms LLC.

• Violet McClain, reserve grand champion cake decorating, $325: Jessica Ault.

Bryce Kilander (middle), the son of Megan and David Kilander, sold his Grand Champion Stewer to Les Gerber Insurance, represented by Perry Gerber. Also pictured are 4-H Ambassador Chayson Brown (left) and Marianne Pease (right).

• Grant Nash, grand champion corn. $450: Farmers & Merchants State Bank, Rob & Jenni Hoover Family and Truland.

• Ethan Donovan, reserve grand champion corn, $900: BR Fuel Services, Farmers & Merchants State Bank, Helena Chemical, Johnson Seed Sales, National ECO Energy, National Oil & Gas, Inc., Shaw AG & Earthworks LLC and Truland.

Emma Fey (middle), the daughter of Amanda Krinn and Tony Fey, sold her Grand Champion Fryer to Baker Farms GP, First Farmers Bank, Huffman Real Estate Group, Jessica Ault, Krinn Farms, Monte Fisher and Markley Ag Services. Pictured is 4-H Ambassador Chayson Brown, Fisher, Mike Krinn, Fey, Huffman, Wilcox, Matt Krinn and 4-H Ambassador Marianne Pease.

• Makenzie Fuess, grand champion floriculture, $400: NX4.

Joseph Nusbaumer, son of Jody and Abby Nusbaumer, sold his Reserve Grand Champion Barrow to Dr. Harry Brickley Farm Foundation, First Bank of Berne, Halderman Real Estate & Farm Management, Helena Chemical, Mounsey Family Farms LLC, Steffen Oil, Truland and Yoder Grain. Also pictured is 4-H Ambassadors Makenzie Fuess and Marianne Pease.

• McKenna Freed, reserve grand champion floriculture, $425: Larry Reinhard and Lee and Danielle Werling.

• Violet McClain, grand champion prepared foods, $350: Dr. Harry Brickley Farm Foundation, Halderman Real Estate & Farm Management and Mounsey Farms Inc.

• Elsa Franks, chamion prepared foods, $325: R & J Collectables and Rick Fiechter Farms.

Mason Baker, son of Kari and Ryan Baker, sold his Reserve Grand Champion turkey to Baker Farms, BKM Real Estate, Kreuckeberg Auction, BR Fuel Services, Farmers & Merchants, Johnson Seed Sales, Lee and Danielle Werling, National Oil & Gas, Shaw Ag and Truland Equipment.

• Joshua Bricker, grand champion preserved foods, $300: Dr. Harry Brickley Farm Foundation and Halderman Real Estate & Farm Management.

Caroline Ripperger, daughter of Judy and Mike Ripperger, sold her Champion Hereford Steer to Baker Farms, represented by Zak Krinn. Also pictured are 4-H Ambassadors Chayson Brown, Makenzie Fuess and Marianne Pease.

• Preston Sailors, reserve grand champion foods, $450: National Oil & Gas, Inc.

Hallie Mounsey, daughter of Charissa and Jarrod Mounsey, sold her Grand Champion Dairy Beef Steer to Black Creek Contracting, BR Fuel Services, First Bank of Berne, First Merchants Bank, Habegger’s Ace, Mounsey Farms Inc., National Oil & Gas, Inc., PK Agribusiness Services LLC, Red Line Equipment and Rick Fiechter Farms.

• Elijah Ingle, grand champion garden, $350: Rob & Jenni Hoover Family, Truland.

Bryce Kilander, the son of Megan and David Kilander, sold his Grand Champion and Best Dairy Wether to Les Gerber Insurance, represented by Perry Gerber. Also pictured is 4-H Ambassador Makenzie Fuess.

• Kammy Miller, reserve grand champion garden, $350: Ulmer Livestock Trucking.

Samantha Evans, daughter of Angie and Andy Evans, sold her Grand Champion Born & Raise Meat Goat to BR Fuel Services, Bunge, Dettmer Enterprises, First Bank of Berne, Halderman Rest Estate, National Oil & Gas, Red Line Equipment, Scott and Emily Miller and Wood Farms Premium Meals.

• McKenzie Striker, grand champion soybeans, $450: Perfect Pet.

• Dane Schlagenhauf, reserve grand champion soybeans, $1,400: Ag Best, BKM Real Estate and Krueckeberg Auction Company, BR Fuel Services, First Bank of Berne, Halderman Real Estate & Farm Management, National ECO Energy, National Oil & Gas, Inc. and Truland.

Owen Boxell, the son of Lisa and Nathan Boxell, sold his Reserve Grand Champion Dairy wether to Kris Frauhiger, represented by Ann Frauhiger above, Helena Chemical and Lehman Feed Mill. Holding the banner is Tyler Nicholas, and 4-H Ambassadors are Chayson Brown and Makenzie Fuess.

• Blake Fuess, strawberry grand champion, $350: NX4.

• Mason Wells, reserve grand champion strawberry, $325: Doug Ingle.

• Dane Schlagenhauf, grand champion wheat, $1,000: BKM Real Estate and Krueckeberg Auction Company, Halderman Real Estate & Farm Management, Johnson Seed Sales and Shaw AG & Earthworks LLC.

• Eden Stoppenhagen, reserve grand champion wheat, $500: Andy & Angie Evans, ANA Farms, Keystone Cooperative and Steffen Oil.

Livestock Auction

• Case Boxell, grand champion meat pen, $425: First Bank of Berne, Lehman Feed Mill, Power-Up-Electric and Truland.

• Emma Fey, grand champion fryer, $1,100: Baker Farms GP, First Farmers Bank & Trust, Huffman Real Estate Group, Jessica Ault, Krinn Farms Inc. and Monte Fisher & Markley Ag Services.

• Bryce Kilander, grand champion stewar, $325: Les Gerber Insurance.

• Hunter Wenger, grand champion steer, $4,600: American Axle, Andy & Angie Evans, ANA Farms, Apache Propane, Bluffton Animal Clinic, BR Fuel Services, Brickley Excavating, Bunge, Double A Truck Repair LLC, Dr. Harry Brickley Farm Foundation, First Bank of Berne, First Merchants Bank, Habegger’s Ace, Halderman Real Estate & Farm Management, Helena Chemical, Jessica Ault, Lehman Feed Mill, Mitchel Enterprises Corp., Monte Fisher & Markley Ag Services, Moser & Son Heating, National Oil & Gas, Inc., Power-Up-Electric, Prible Ag Products, Rick Fiechter Farms, S & S Family Farms, Shaw AG & Earthworks LLC, Sills Farms, Steffen Oil, Stoller Family, Sue Girod, The Farmhouse Merc, Truland, Wells Co. Farm Bureau Young Farmers and Yoder Grain.

Hunter Wenger, son of Mick and Mollie Wenger, sold his Grand Champion to American Axle, Andy and Angie Evans, ANA Farms, Apache Propane, Bluffton Animal Clinic, BR Fuel Services, Brickley Excavating, Bunge, Double A Truck Repair LLC, Dr. Harry Brickley Farm Foundation, Dr. Harry Brickley Farm Foundation, First Bank of Berne, First Merchants Bank, Habegger’s Ace, Halderman Real Estate & Farm Management, Helena Chemical, Jessica Ault, Lehman Feed Mill, Lehman Feed Mill, Mitchel Enterprises Corp., Monte Fisher & Markley Ag Services, Moser & Son Heating, National Oil & Gas, Inc., Power-Up-Electric, Prible Ag Products, Rick Fiechter Farms, S & S Family Farms, Shaw AG & Earthworks LLC, Sills Farms, Steffen Oil, Stoller Family, Sue Girod, The Farmhouse Merc, Truland, Wells Co. Farm Bureau Young Farmers, Yoder Grain. Pictured is 4-H Ambassador Chayson Brown, Celsey Clark, Mike Christal, Brent Bales, Kayla Kiefer, Julia Prible and Ashton Prible. (Photos by Ryan Walker)

• Caroline Ripperger, champion hereford steer, $850: Baker Farms GP.

• Yazmine Tucker, champion senior dairy showman, $1,100: BR Fuel Services, First Merchants Bank, Kris Frauhiger, Lehman Feed Mill and National Oil & Gas, Inc.

• Hallie Mounsey, grand champion dairy beef, $2,000: Black Creek Contracting, BR Fuel Services, First Bank of Berne, First Merchants Bank, Habegger’s Ace, Mounsey Farms Inc, National Oil & Gas, Inc., PK Agribusiness Services LLC, Red Line Equipment and Rick Fiechter Farms.

• Gracie Rinkenberger, champion natural color market lamb, $2,225: Andy & Angie Evans, ANA Farms, Dr. Harry Brickley Farm Foundation, First Bank of Berne, Golden Horizon Ag, Habegger’s Ace, Halderman Real Estate & Farm Management, Helena Agri Enterprises, Indiana Farm Bureau Insurance, Kris Frauhiger, Lee & Danielle Werling, Lehman Feed Mill, P & S Consultants, Rick Fiechter Farms and Yoder Grain.

• Luci Jenkins, grand champion dairy feeder, $500: Meyer Building, LLC.

• Adrian Boxell, champion dairy feeder, $600.

Adrian Boxell shows his dairy feeder steer at Thursday’s auction. (Photo by Holly Gaskill)

• Alaina Nusbaumer, reserve grand champion dairy feeder, $800: Earthwise Energy, Helena Agri Enterprises, Steffen Oil and Wells County Farm Bureau, Inc.

• Bryce Kilander, grand champion best in show wether, $500: Frauhiger Livestock and P & S Consultants.

• Owen Boxell, reserve grand champion best in show dairy wether, $500: Helena Chemical, Kris Frauhiger and Lehman Feed Mill.

Luci Jenkers, daughter of Cari Wenger-Midlam, sold her Grand Champion Dairy Feeder to Meyer Building, represented Matthew Gerber. Also pictured are 4-H Ambassadors Chayson Brown, Makenzie Fuess and Marianne Pease.

• Joseph Nusbaumer, reserve grand champion barrow, $1,100: Dr. Harry Brickley Farm Foundation, First Bank of Berne, Halderman Real Estate & Farm Management, Helena Chemical, Mounsey Family Farms LLC, Steffen Oil, Truland and Yoder Grain.

• Delani Prible, champion Berkshire barrow, $1,650: Ag Best, Dave Prible Farms, Prible Ag Products, Steffen Oil, Tug It Truckin and Yoder Grain.

• Connor Reed, champion spot barrow, $2,300: Apache Propane, Bluffton Animal Clinic, Bumgarner Trucking, Dr. Harry Brickley Farm Foundation, First Bank of Berne, First Farmers Bank & Trust, Halderman Real Estate & Farm Management, Helena Chemical, Matt & Lauren Prible, Mitchel Enterprises Corp., Scott & Emily Miller, Shelton Financial Group, Steffen Oil and Yoder Grain.

• Baylee Sliger, champion Yorkshire barrow, $850: Baker Farms GP, Dr. Harry Brickley Farm Foundation, Halderman Real Estate & Farm Management and Mitchel Enterprises Corp.

• Keeton Carroll, Landrace Barrows, $700: Bluffton Animal Clinic and Dr. John Huseman.

4-H Foundation

• Two pies made by Helen Witte, $900 each: Dr. Harry Brickley Farm Foundation, Halderman Real Estate & Farm Management and Ulmer Livestock Trucking.

Helen Witte’s pies to benefit the 4-H Foundation were sold to the Ulmer Livestock Training, represented by Tracey and Kent Ulmer, and the Dr. Harry Brickley Farm Foundation and Halderman Real Estate, represented by Jason Johnloz.

• Two commemorative coins, $400 each: Dr. Harry Brickley Farm Foundation and R & J Collectables.

he Dr. Harry Brickley Farm Foundation, represented by Rick Johnloz (above), and R & J Collectibles, represented by Roland and Judy Myers (below), purchased this year’s commemorative coins minted each year for the benefit of the 4-H Foundation.

• Backpack donations, totaling $1,100: Ag Best, Baker Farms GP, Bunge, Chad and Renee Captain, Chelsea Klefeker, Clint & Emily Tumbleson, Coldwell Banker Holloway, Commodity Blenders LLC, Dettmer Enterprises, Dr. Harry Brickley Farm Foundation, First Bank of Berne, Heartland REMC, Krinn Farms Inc., Leas Farms, Les Gerber Insurance, Mike & Shelley Mossburg, National Oil & Gas, Inc., Olivia Binegar, P & S Consultants, Schriver Heritage Farms, Shaw AG & Earthworks LLC, Shaw Real Estate & Auction, Inc., Stoller Family, Sue Girod, Tech Services, Tim Engle Farms, Truland, Ulmer Livestock Trucking and Wells County Council/Coldwell Banker Holloway.

holly@news-banner.com,

ryan@news-banner.com

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