Janel Zehring gives her son Andon a little help in the auction ring.

WARSAW — The annual 4-H Livestock Auction and Sale of Champions is a special time for 4-H’ers as efforts are rewarded through the sale of their 4-H animals. The efforts of one 4-H’er were recognized by buyers from over 16 states, bringing in the top dollar for the evening and a standing ovation from every one in attendance.

Andon Zehring, Leesburg, is known as a miracle boy. At 8-months of age he was diagnosed with a grade 4 brain tumor. He worked hard to overcome the effects of the tumor. In his second year of 4-H, he participated in 4-H Beef judging. His mother, Janelle Zehring, said Andon cannot use his left arm.

He began working with his steer in October. Not being able to use a show stick, Andon worked with the steer to get it to stand as required in the show ring. His hard work preparing the steer to show its qualities paid off. He received reserve grand champion beef steer.

The final reward was during the auction. Bidding started out as normal, but soon bids reached over $10,000 and kept going. Dennis Polk, auctioneer and grandfather of Andon, was soon speechless and in tears. The bidding was up to $19,000 and ended at $20,000. Others were also teary eyed including Andon’s mother Janelle, grateful and shocked by the support.

Sale Of Champions

The 14th annual Sale of Champions saw 17 animals auctioned along with kisses from the 4-H Queen and 4-H King.
Results during the Sale of Champions are:

Aidan Beer, brother of 4-H Queen Ashley Beer received the Queens Kiss.

The reserve grand champion market lamb, shown by Sydney Peterson, Claypool, brought $2,275.

Danielle Jenkins, Milford, sold her grand champion specialty market goat for $3,775.

The grand champion senior doe-goat milk, sold by Jucinda Wilson, Claypool, brought $800.

Casey Dierks, Claypool, sold his grand champion turkey for $2,000.

Cora Randsbottom, Claypool, sold her grand champion market duck and her reserve grand champion dairy calf feeder steer together. Both items sold for $2,000.

The grand champion boilers, shown by Brandt Martin, Warsaw, were purchased for $2,350.

This year’s grand champion beef steer, shown by Gavin Smith, Warsaw, brought $12,825.

Hunter Magiera, Syracuse, received $5,000 for his grand champion dairy steer.

The grand champion dairy calf feeder steer, shown by Justin Beer, Milford, brought $3,400.

Katie Schmidt, Warsaw, sold her grand champion rabbit meat pen for $1,500.

The reserve grand champion rabbit meat pen was sold by Evan Wood, Claypool, for $1,575.

Produce from the grand champion Jersey, sold by Emily Day, North Manchester, brought $1,300.

Conner Sausaman, right, 4-H King, gave the King’s Kiss to Melinda Miller, mother of Kurt Miller.

Alexus Greene, Warsaw, sold produce from her grand champion Holstein, for $2,000.

The grand champion barrow, sold by Jared Templin, brought $8,425.

Stephen Miller, North Webster, sold his reserve grand champion barrow for $5,675.

This year’s queen kiss from Ashley Beer was purchased for $1,700 and given to her brother Aidan. The proceeds from the sale of the kiss go toward the Beef & Dairy Barn.

Conner Sausaman, 2016 King, became an auctioneer’s helper during the auction of a kiss from him. The king’s kiss was sold for $3,000. Melinda Miller, mother of Kurt Miller, received the kiss. The proceeds from the king’s kiss went toward the Kurt Miller Memorial Fund.

The 4-H Livestock auction saw 516 lots auctioned including 10 pork loins and 10 ribeye. The total results of the 2016 Livestock auction are still being tabulated. There were 29 sheep auctioned, 54 goats, 144 poultry, 28 beef steers, 11 dairy steers, 36 dairy calf feeder steers, 27 rabbits, 44 dairy items, 121 swine lots.