4-H FAIR: Steer sale nets $15K-plus for Seed to Feed program

July 26--GOSHEN -- The shock on Lane Flowers' face was obvious.

A few weeks prior, the 6-year Elkhart County 4-Her had made the decision to donate the money he earned during the auction of his Simmental steer to an organization that feeds the hungry in Elkhart County.

But never once did he think he'd raise more than $15,000 to help those in need, Flowers said.

"I wasn't expecting this at all," he said, shaking his head in disbelief. "I just thought it sounded like a good idea and I wanted to help."

Flowers' 1,340-pound steer Cornbelly received support from approximately 62 buyers during Friday's auction at the Elkhart County 4-H Fair, bringing the total amount raised to $15,410, or $11.50 a pound.

"I didn't think I'd get this kind of attention," Flowers said, explaining how he'd been interviewed several times the day before by local media. "Everybody right now thinks I'm this great guy, but it's not about me. I did it for these people who really need help."

The money raised will be donated to Seed to Feed, a program sponsored by Church Community Services, of Elkhart, that provides locally grown food to pantries and meal sites throughout Elkhart County.

Flowers, the son of Monte and Charlene Flowers, of Nappanee, received more than $7,000 during last year's auction for his reserve grand champion Hereford steer. He put that money into a college fund and decided he would pay it forward.

"I just didn't know it would have this much of an effect," Flowers said. "I'm really happy. I just can't believe it."

Monte Flowers said he was "very, very proud" of his son and grateful he received so much support.

"This will be something he'll remember for the rest of his life," Monte Flowers said.

Lane Flowers said he hopes to see others follow in his footsteps next year by donating their winnings to organizations that help others.

"It's a really good feeling. I'll probably do it again another year, but I hope others do too," he said.

Follow Julie on Twitter @jcrothers_tgn

Friday's auction totals are:

DAIRY FEEDER CALF

Total Calves Sold -- 202

Record -- 255 in 2007

Total dollars raised -- $252,474.29 a new record

Previous Record -- $235,130 in 2007

Grand Champion

Sold for $16 per pound, a new record

The previous record of $14 per pound was set in 2013

Total Pounds -- 463

Total Sale Price -- $7,408

Owned by -- Zachary Klotz, Etna Green

Buyers -- Friends of Zach Klotz: McCormick Motors, J & N Stone, David & Tina Sheetz & family, Dr. Weldy's Associates, Dr. Wade and Greta Hammond, Dr. Brent Sonner, Hair Quarters, Todd & Tina Stutzman, Conway Hershberger, Grandma's Pantry, Superior Diesel, Kraig Resler Family, Sam Burtsfield, Wakarusa Heavy Equipment, Rick & Mary Yontz & Family, Milford Animal Clinic, Rod's Trademark Remolding; Max & Caroline Mullet, Tim Stutsman & Family, Uncle Phil & Aunt Pam Klotz,Davod & Racheal Dutoi, First State Bank, Hoover Lumber & Feed, Nappanee Family Eye Care, Dr. Minnich, Edward Jones -- Brent Bontrager,Yoder Carpets -- Gary Yoder, Jody, Tara, Blakley, Courtney & Mary Lengacher family, Elkhart County Farm Bureau Insurance, MarLee Acres Farms, Jim Weeber & Family, Monty, Charlene & Lance Flowers, Bud & Vicki Etsinger, Mark Beer & Family, Phil Tom -- Turtle Top Assoc.,Kevin Kezar, Heath Fervida & Family, Tom Coy, Nicolle, Brock, Drew & Ryne, Flickinger, Schmucker's LP Gas -- Keith Klotz, Millmark Industries -- Darin Miller, Fred & Diane Weisser, Market Street Auto, Rite Choice of Nappanee, Glenn's Tire -- Nappanee & Wakarusa, Taylor Lizzi, Drew Dutoi, Bert & Elaine Egging, Thompson & Lengacher Funeral Home, Topping Dental Group, Crop Tech, Jeff Beer & Family, Stutzman Family Farms, Hoover Feeds, Bobby Cutter & Family, Shipshewana Auction, Five Diamonds Htg. & Air, Reliance Construction, Yoder / Stutzman Plbg. & Htg., Maple Crest Farms -- Alex Brenneman, Martin's Supermarket, Rohr Masonry, Knepp Sand & Gravel, Agri-Nomics Consulting LLC, Phil & Karen Hahn.

Reserve Grand Champion

Sold for $11.15 per pound

Previous record of $14.50 was set in 2013.

Total Pounds -- 494

Total Sale Price -- $5,508.10

Owned by -- Bryce Wuthrich, Milford

Buyers -- Friends of Bryce Wuthrich: Lippert Components, Inc., Troy Wuthrich Family, CAJE Corp., Polk Auction, Stan Wuthrich Family, The Papers, Talmer West Bank, Old Dominion Truck Leasing, Richloom Fabrics, Farm Bureau Insurance -- Jeff Atwood, Hostetler & Askew Door, Lake City Bank, Ed & Tricia Lester, The Farmer's Exchange, Hull Lift Truck -- Tom Sexton, Clint & Kristy Cripe, Jeff & Amy Beer, Russ & Mary Anderson, Hahn Auctioneers, Turtle Top & Assoc., Topping Dentistry, ADM, Robert Beer Family, Doug Schrock. Wana Feeds, North Central Co-Op, Flippin' Cow Burger Joint.

LAMB

Total Lambs sold -- 163

Record -- 210 in 1998

Total dollars raised -- $107,816.49

Record -- $108,262 in 2013

Grand champion -- single market lamb

Sold for $5 per pound

Record -- $105 per pound in 2007

Weight -- 145 pounds, for a total sale price of $725

Owned by -- Austin Bernicky, Claypool

Buyers -- Doug & Ryan Thwaits, Lambright Club Lambs, Shipshewana Auction, Tim and Amy Graber

Reserve grand champion single market lamb

Sold for $5 per pound

Record -- $57 per pound in 2007

Weight -- 144 pounds, for a total sale price of $720

Owned by -- Markus Bernicky, Claypool

Buyers -- McCormick Motor, Doug & Ryan Thwaits, Lambright Club Lambs, Shipshewana Auction, Tim & Amy Graber

Grand champion pen of two market lambs

Sold for $13 per pound

Record -- $26 per pound in 2006

Weight -- 286 pounds, for a total Sales Price of $3,718.00

Owned by -- Brandon Lehman

Buyers -- Interra Credit Union, Bob Tyson, Topeka Pharmacy, Wana Feed, Yoder Farm Service, Agronomic Solutions, Homestyle Butchering, Assurance Property Management, Mark & Diane Kritzman Family, Millersburg Animal

Reserve grand champion pen of two market lambs

Sold for $10 per pound

Record -- $26 per pound in 2005

Weight -- 277 pounds, for a total Sales Price of $2,770

Owned by -- Mikayla Rayburn

Buyers -- Farm Credit Services, Meridian Title, Farm Bureau Insurance, White Veterinary Hospital, Fidelity National Title, Chase Home Finance, Mom & Dad

SWINE

Total Swine Sold -- 248

Record -- 441 set in 1996

Total Dollars Raised -- $282,850.25, a new record. The previous record of $262,094.82 was set in 2013.

Grand Champion Barrow

Sold for $27 per pound

Record: $54 per pound set in 2008

Total pounds -- 290

Total Sale Price -- $7,563.20

Owned by -- Bryce Resler, Wakarusa

Buyers -- Friends & Family of Bryce Resler: J & N Stone, Jack & Nadine Lengacher, Herb & Fancheon Resler, Jamie & Jolinda Lengacher, Henschen Oil, Edward Jones Investments -- Brent Bontrager, Randy & Jane Abel Family, Time & Zach Klotz, Jon & Brenda Gawthrop Family, Tangles Hair Salon, McCormick Motors, Bruce & Shelly Sanders Family, Nappanee Family Eyecare, Boysen Show Pigs, Thompson Lengacher Funeral Home, BriMar Wood Innovations, Trent Hostetler -- Farm Bureau Insurance, Brian & Kenda Friend Family, ADM, Feed & Pet Depot, Dr. Weldy Associates, Tim & Missy Risser Family, Mattern Butcher Shop & Corner Deli, Nelson's, Kim Whitehead, Guenter Simon, Wakarusa Saw Mill, Brooke & Kevin Rasler, Agronomics Consulting.

Reserve Grand Champion Barrow

Sold for $13 per pound

Record -- $17 per pound set in 1999

Total pounds -- 265

Total Sale Price -- $3,445.00

Owned by -- Blake Wyman, Goshen

Buyers -- Friends & Family of Blake Wyman: First State Bank, Dowty Farm, First State Insurance, Doug & Ryan Thwaits, Goshen Businessman, Clinton Center Feed, Wes & Jennifer Davis, North Central Co-Op, US Male Hair Salon, Hopper's Pike Street Grille, 5 & 20 Restaurant, Turtle Top, Dana J's Deli, Lambright Show Pigs, Hav-Lee Farms, Chad & Stephanie Weldy, Mike & Bobbi Wood, Ryan & Stephanie Weldy, Michiana Agra, Denny Weldy, Doug Schrock

POULTRY

Total poultry pens sold -- 143, a new record. (Previous record -- 136 in 2003.)

Total dollars raised -- $42,750, a new record. (Previous record -- $32,050 in 2013

Grand Champion Roaster

Sold For $1,100

Record -- $1,300 in 2008

Owned by -- Emma Yohn, Elkhart

Buyers -- Nelsons, Hawkins Water Tech Inc.

Grand Champion, Champion Duck

Sold For $1,050

Owned by -- Hannah Diener, Goshen

Buyers -- D J Construction, Yoder Carpets, Clinton Center Feed, Turtle Top & Associates, Irma Miller, Square 1 Builders, Rain Guard Seamless Guttering, Goshen Plumbing and Heating, Millersburg Lumber, Loren Chupp Insurance, Premiere Signs, Pete's Construction, Mapletronics, White Veterinary, Idehl Acres, Hawkin's Water Tech.

Reserve Grand Champion Roaster

Sold for $400

Owned by -- Kory Kern, Goshen

Buyer -- Mark DeWitt

Champion Broilers

Sold for $925

Owned by -- Abigail Hawkins, Middlebury

Buyers -- Hawkin's Water Tech Inc., Bob and Nancy Hawkins, Bertha Rhodes

Champion Hen Turkey

Sold for $950

Owned by -- Dayna-Rose Brown, Goshen

Buyer -- Rusty Wheel Acres

Champion Tom Turkey

Sold for $275

Owned by -- Justin Davidson, Goshen

Buyer -- Andy Gall Family