The grand champion beef steer was sold by Andon Zehring for $15,700.

WARSAW — The annual 4-H Livestock Auction and 16th annual Sale of Champions saw 4-H’ers reap monetary rewards Friday at the Kosciusko County 4-H Fair.

The day began with the annual 4-H Livestock Auction with 480 lots of animals sold to the highest bidder. The day concluded with the 16th Annual Sale of Champions, with 15 champion or reserve champion animals sold along with the 4-H Queen and King Kiss.

While attendance appeared to be down from years past at the Sale of Champions, 4-H’ers received top dollar for their prized animals.

Madelyn Zimmerman works the crowd to raise money from the queen’s kiss for the John Anglin Memorial Show Arena and Beaver Dam 4-H Club.

A part of the sale of champions is the auctioning off of a kiss from the 4-H Queen and 4-H King.

This year 4-H Queen Madelyn Zimmerman, Milford, chose for the money raised for her kiss to go toward the John Anglin Memorial Show Arena and Beaver Dam 4-H Club. She is the daughter of John and Peg Zimmerman and a member of the Milford Helping Hands. The queen’s kiss was sold for $3,115.65 with the honor going to her father.

Proceeds from this year’s 4-H King Jackson Templin went to the 4-H Beef Barn. Templin, Leesburg, is the son of Terry and Karen Templin and a member of Milford Helping hands. The king’s kiss was sold for $2,250 and the honor was given to his girl friend Reagan Rowland.

Andon Zehring, Leesburg, son of Brian and Janel Zehring and a member of the Leesburg Mighty Farmers, had the grand champion beef steer. The steer, weighing 1,385 was sold for $15,700.

The reserve grand champion beef steer, owned by Collin Deatsman, Leesburg, weighed 1,365 pounds. The steer sold for $8,525. Deatsman is the son of Brian and Janelle Deatsman and a member of Leesburg Mighty Farmers. It was noted that last year Deatsman took some of the proceeds from the sale of his grand champion beef steer and send it to a young boy from Oklahoma who was awaiting a heart transplant in Texas. He received word earlier in the week the transplant took place and the young boy is doing fine.

Jared Beer, Milford, son of Marc and Jodi Beer and member of the Milford Helping Hands, had the grand champion dairy calf feeder steer. The steer, named Hank, had a show weight of 616 pounds and was sold for $2,525.

Stephanie Baughman, Pierceton, a member of the Pierceton Hayseeds and daughter of Jim and Elaine Baughman, had the grand champion rabbit meat pen. Her rabbit meat pen sold for $450.

Jackson Templin uses a chap stick in preparation for giving his king’s kiss.

The reserve grand champion rabbit meat pen sold for $1,600. Katie Schmidt, Warsaw, daughter of James and April Schmidt, was the owner. She is a member of Leesburg Mighty Farmers.

“Templeton” the grand champion barrow, was sold by Emma Patrick, Warsaw, for $6,500. She is the daughter of Chad and Cori Patrick and a member of Mentone United 4-H Club. The barrow had a show weight of 271 pounds.

Allie Ayers, Warsaw, daughter of Gabe and Jessica Ayers and a member of Leesburg Mighty Farmers, had the reserve grand champion barrow. The barrow, with a show weight of 283 pounds, sold for $11,885.

Jaden Moneyheffer, Akron, a first year 4-H’er, had the grand champion specialty market goat.  He is the son of Justin Moneyheffer and Kayla Moneyheffer and a member of Claypool Classics. The goat sold for $1,550 and had a show weight of 85 pounds.

The grand champion dairy market goat, owned by Asher Meyer, Warsaw, had a show weight of 72 pounds and was sold for $2,500. He is the son of Ralph and Paula Meyer and a member of the Kosciusko County 4-H Goat Club.

Cassie Garber wipes away tears of joy and surprise when her grand champion turkey sold for $3,000.

Jason Moore, Warsaw, a first year 4-H’er, had the grand champion dairy goat milk. He is the son of Tim and Janet Moore and a member of the goat club and Pierceton Hayseeds. Milk products from the goat were sold for $1,300.

Jackson Templin, Milford, a member of Milford Helping Hands and son of Terry and Karen Templin, had the grand champion market lamb. The lamb had a show weight of 130 pounds and was sold for $9,035.

Mallory Bowers, Mentone, daughter of Craig Bowers and Jody Titus and member of Mentone United, had the reserve grand champion market lamb. The show weight was 133 pounds and was sold for $3,500.

Kimber McSherry, Claypool, daughter of Keith and Shannon McSherry and member of Burket Country Neighbors, had the grand champion broilers. The birds were sold for $1,395.

This helper of Emma Patrick is all smiles as she holds up two of the banners Patrick’s grand champion barrow won during the fair.

Evan Yoder, Warsaw, a member of the American Neverquitters and son of Glen and Carmen Yoder, had the grand champion market ducks. The ducks were sold for $2,800.

Cassie Garber, Warsaw, a member of Firm Foundations and daughter of John and Kelly Garber, had the grand champion turkey. The turkey was sold for $3,000.

During the regular 4-H livestock auction, there were 23 beef steers sold, 10 dairy steers, 41 dairy calf feeder steers, 25 rabbits, 47 dairy items, 102 swine lots, 23 specialty goat lots, 17 dairy goat lots, 18 goat products, 26 sheep and 149 poultry.

Jeff Polk, DeWayne Miller and Brian Wuthrich were auctioneers for the event with Kevin Deardorff announcing. Ringmen included Nub Lowrey and Gary Peters.