ST. PAUL, Minn. — Quality animals, quality kids, and quality buyers made the 45th 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 $1,100,000 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 Danica Prins of Murray County. Ames Construction once again had the successful bid of $65,000 for a new Minnesota record price. The Reserve Champion Market Beef was the Reserve Champion Crossbred Division III Steer shown by Maria Hegland of Dakota County. Swanson Meats, Minnesota Farmers Union Foundation, Farmers Union Agency, and Farmers Union Industries made the bid of $29,975 to purchase the steer.
American Foods Group, Central Livestock Association, and O&S Cattle Company came together for a record-setting bid of $26,000 for this year’s Grand Champion Dairy Steer exhibited by Lawson Jax of Mower County. The Reserve Champion Dairy Steer shown by Kyle Stensland of Goodhue County was purchased by the American Foods Group for $24,000, which set a new record.
This year’s Champion Crossbred Lightweight Barrow was named Grand Champion Barrow for Landen Purdy of Freeborn County. Alltech and Hog Slat worked together to purchase the barrow for $17,900. The Reserve Champion Barrow was the Reserve Champion Crossbred Middleweight shown by Audrey Redalen of Fillmore County and was purchased for a record price of $20,700 by a purchasing group made up of Minnesota Farmers Union Foundation,
Farmers Union Agency, Farmers Union Industries, and Cargill Animal Nutrition & Health. The Champion Market Gilt brought a price of $18,550 for Macy Sonnek of Faribault County when Cemstone made the purchase. The Reserve Champion Market Gilt exhibited by Colby Darling of Nobles County brought Zinpro, Hormel and Wakefield Pork together as they partnered with the final bid of $19,700 for a record price.
The Grand Champion Market Lamb was the Champion Heavyweight Lamb, shown by Madison Dwire of Lincoln County. Minnesota Farmers Union Foundation, Farmers Union Agency, and Farmers Union Industries was the winning bidder for $13,950, setting a new record price. The Reserve Champion Market Lamb exhibited by Brielle Bakken of Freeborn County was the Champion Middleweight Lamb and brought a price of $8,000 when the group of MN State Fair Concessionaires made the purchase.
Minnesota Farmers Union Foundation, Farmers Union Agency, Farmers Union Industries, and Dodge County Purple Ribbon Club made a record bid of $9,300 to purchase the Grand Champion Market Meat Goat exhibited by Aubrey Quam of Dodge County. The Grand Champion Dairy Meat Goat was exhibited by Kylie Mann of Goodhue County and sold for a record price of $11,450 to Long Cheng Hmong Meats and the Goodhue County Purple Ribbon Club. Swanson Meats and the Jackson County Purple Ribbon club worked together to place a bid of $7,800 for the Grand Champion Market Doe that was exhibited by Joshua Thompson of Jackson 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 $11,375.
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 price of $6,215. The Reserve Champion Pen of Chickens was purchased by Ready Mix Concrete Company and Larry & Mark Peterson for $8,700, which is a new record price. The pen of chickens was exhibited by Sidney Leonard of Wabasha County.
Minnesota Farmers Union Foundation, Farmers Union Agency, Farmers Union Industries, and the Minnesota Poultry Association partnered together to purchase the Grand Champion Pen of Turkeys, exhibited by Naomi Wiechman of Stearns County, for a price of $8,900. The Reserve Champion Pen of Turkeys was exhibited by Gabriel Yanish of Meeker County. Yanish Farrier Service and Meeker County 4-H worked together to purchase the pen of turkeys for a record price of $12,700.
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. 56 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, AcuFast, Dick Boniface Memorial, Zinpro Corporation, CorTrust Bank, Don McClure – Skyride,Barbara & Brian Knudson, Wholestone Farms, Cemstone, Chuck Christains Memorial sponsored by Family & Friends, O’Sullivan Cattle & O’Sullivan Auctioneers, Topigs Norsvin USA, MN Farmers Union, Hy-Vee Foods, Mouth Trap Cheese Curds, AgCountry Farm Credit Services, Corn Roast Concessions Brad & Lori Ribar, Duke’s Poutine, Matt & Erin Ribar, LA-CO Industries, BankIn Minnesota, John Schafer,MN Pork Board, Federated Co-ops Inc., Compeer Financial, Pipestone Grain Co., Boehringer-Ingelheim Carousel Foods, MN Association of Meat Producers, Big Gain, Mary & Don Weis, Hamilton Auctions, Joleen & Gary Koch, MN Cattlewomen, Mary & Tom Kriva, Juanita Reed Boniface, Kent Thiesse & Steve Pooch, Jamie & Mark Pufeerst, Shanghaied Henri’s, MN Simmental Association, Bellingham Farmers Elevator, Midwest Machinery, Hubbard Feeds, ProAg Farmers Cooperative, Von Hanson’s Meats, Protein Sources, Munsterteiger Family Farms, Eric & Kristi Ruen, Pronto Pups – The Karnis Family, Ziegler Ag Equipment, Gislason & Hunter LLP and Hormel Foods. The Minnesota 4-H Purple Ribbon Auction is sponsored by the Minnesota Livestock Breeders Association each year.
— University of Minnesota Extension