The annual 4-H Livestock Auction culminates a year of hard work and dedication of those 4-H’ers who are involved in livestock projects. The auction this year will be at 10 a.m. Friday, July 13, with the Sale of Champions to begin at 6 p.m.
Shown is the grand champion dairy steer sold by Hunter Magiera, Syracuse, and the group of buyers. The steer sold for $6,000. (Photo by Deb Patterson)

WARSAW — The annual 4-H Livestock Auction at the Kosciusko County Community Fair is set to begin at 10 a.m. Friday, July 13, with the sale of champions beginning at 6 p.m.

The auction is the culmination of a year of hard work and dedication of more than 400 4-H animal exhibitors in Kosciusko County. Through the projects, 4-H’ers learn valuable life skills and lessons. The auction is the final step for their projects and the lesson about marketing.

The auction begins promptly at 10 a.m. and continues with no breaks through the following order: dairy and beef steers, dairy calf feeder steers, rabbit, dairy, goats and sheep, poultry and waterfowl.

Buyers may register at the 4-H office at the fairgrounds starting at 8 a.m. Friday, July 13, but can register anytime during fair week at the 4-H office.

The 2017 sale total was $411,718.16 with an additional $6,269.25 from the buyers support group for a grand total of $417,987.41. There were 478 lots sold during the auction.

The number of lots were down by 38 from 2016. Additionally the total dollars were down $1,013.55 from 2016. The previous sale total record was in 2014 raising $437,674.79 and the record number of total lots sold was also in 2014, with 558 lots.

The Sale of Champions includes the grand and/or reserve grand champion animals of each species. The king and queen kisses will also be sold during this sale. The Sale of Champions will follow the same sale order as the regular auction.

Individuals may opt to add a set dollar amount for a specific 4-H’er’s animal. This can be accomplished by filling out an add-on slip in the 4-H office during the week of the fair, in addition to the day of the auction.

Sale bills will be available at the 4-H office at the fairgrounds or on www.ag.purdue.edu/counties/kosciusko.