By Deb Patterson
InkFreeNews

WARSAW — The 4-H Livestock Auction culminates a year of work by 4-H’ers with livestock projects. It is here businesses and community members show their support financially for the hard work and efforts put in by the 4-H’ers.

While a highlight is the Sale of Champions, where top dollars are donated by buyers, the fun part of the auction is the auctioning off of a kiss from the 4-H King and 4-H Queen. Each year the crowd enjoys some of the “scenes” created for these kisses — special treats for the winner, COVID distancing, smothering on the Chapstick and much more.

This year had to top them all.

The winner of the Queen’s Kiss from Alyssa Swanson, wasn’t a relative or boy friend. It was Carl, a young dairy calf, brought into the ring for the special honors. The kiss was purchased for $1,410 and will be split between dairy and rabbit barns.

Swanson is the daughter of Kelley and Eric Rollo. She will be a senior at Warsaw Community High School. Swanson is a ninth-year 4-H’er and a member of the Leesburg Mighty Farmers 4-H Club.

Not to be outdone, 4-H King Caleb Lechlitner set up a kissing booth in front of the auction stand. 4-H Princess Reese Rowland arrived at the booth, gave him $5 and snuck a kiss. Even the bidding was a bit unusual.

No adults were bidding. Instead bids were being placed by toddlers, who as it turned out, were cousins and children of friends involved in 4-H. However, the toddlers and Rowland were not to be outdone. Gabe Ayres and Brian Zehring came up to the booth and gave Lechlitner some cash and cornered the prince for kisses.

The King’s Kiss raised $1,725 which will be split between the beef and sheep barns.

Lechlitner is the son of Fred and Heather Lechlitner. He will be a junior at NorthWood High School. He is an eighth-year 4-H’er and is a member of the Leesburg Mighty Farmers and Kosciusko County 4-H Junior Leaders clubs.

There were 15 champions sold during the Sale of Champions.

Delany Shriver, a member of the Claypool Classics, received $1,500 for her grand champion dairy market goat. She is the daughter of David and Cami Shriver. this is her fourth year in 4-H.

The grand champion specialty goat, shown by Colton Martin, son of Rob and Megan Martin, raised $5,315. He is a member of the Lucky Lassies & Lads 4-H Club and a nine-year 4-H’er.

Jason Moore, son of Tim and Janet Moore, had the grand champion milking dairy goat. The auction brought him $1,500. He is a member of the Kosciusko County Goat Club and is in his fifth year of 4-H.

The reserve grand champion market lamb brought $5,530 for Landon Bewley, son of Trent and Katie Ayres. He is a member of the Silver Lake Rambling Farmers and in his sixth-year of 4-H.

Brynn Van Laeken received $4,700 for her grand champion market chicken. She is a member of the Milford Helping Hands and daughter of Michael and Cheryl Van Laeken. This is her first year of 4-H.

The grand champion market duck, shown by Addison Goon, daughter of Joel and Stacie Goon, brought $2,970. She is a member of Leesburg Mighty Farmers and is in her second year of 4-H.

Kaleb Kline, a member of the Leesburg Mighty Farmers, had the grand champion market turkey which was sold for $2,475. He is the son of Duane and Rickell Kline and has spent seven years in 4-H.

Jared Beer, son of Marc and Jodi Beer and a member of the Milford Helping Hands 4-H Club, had the grand champion dairy beef steer. This nine-year 4-H’er received $3,500 in the auction for the steer.

The reserve grand champion dairy beef steer was shown by Taelyn Tom, daughter of Chad and Amanda Tom. The steer brought $3,475. Tom is a member of the Leesburg Mighty Farmers and in her sixth-year of 4-H.

As almost always, the grand champion beef steer brought the top dollar at the auction. This year’s grand champion beef steer was shown by Haley Nelson and brought $11,475. Nelson is the daughter of Scott and Jenny Nelson and a member of the Mentone United 4-H Club. This is her third year in 4-H.

The reserve grand champion beef steer, shown by Gentry Bouse, brought $6,250. Bouse is the son of Tyler and Missy Bouse and a member of the Leesburg Mighty Farmers. This is his third-year in 4-H.

Ella Jarrett, daughter of David and Angie Jarrett, had the grand champion rabbit meat pen. She received $3,875 at the auction. She is a member of the Leesburg Mighty Farmers and is in her sixth year of 4-H.

The reserve grand champion rabbit meat pen, shown by Elena Lawrence, was auctioned off for $1,100. She is the daughter of Chad and Erin Lawrence and a member of the Lucky Lassies & Lads 4-H Club. This is her sixth year in 4-H.

Brock Fraley had the Supreme Grand Champion Dairy winner. He received $5,500 from the auction. He is the son of Shelly Kammerer and Kevin Fraley and a member of the Leesburg Mighty Farmers. He has had eight years in 4-H.

Swanson had the supreme reserve champion dairy winner which netted her $2,350. She is a member of the Leesburg Mighty Farmers and in her ninth-year of 4-H.

The Premium Auction followed the Sale of Champions. This year there were 73 members from the swine project participating, 53 from the goat project, 18 from the sheep project, 35 from the poultry project, 26 from the beef project, seven from the dairy beef project, 17 from the dairy calf feeder steer project, six from the rabbit project, and 38 from the dairy project.

Add-on bids toward any of the members participating in the auction will be accepted through midnight, Monday.