Greensburg — The Decatur County 4-H Fair bid its farewell to a number of animals during the annual livestock sale on Friday.

Area businesses sent representatives to the show arena, where they gathered in the heat to support 4-H and its participants. As it began at 1 p.m., 19 beef animals were sold to a variety of bidders. First on the block was the Grand Champion Steer, exhibited by Justin Geis, bringing $3,200. Devin Nobbe's Reserve Grand Champion Steer brought $1,000. Hoeing Supply bought Jacob Wiseman's Champion Dairy Beef for $450 while Devon Hudson's animal sold for $475 to Tops Hardware and Harvest Supermarket. Tops and Harvest also purchased Megan Vanderbur's animal for $600 and Amanda Hasselbring's for $625. First-year member Clayton Hoover's animal was purchased by Kokomo Grain of Edinburgh for $600 while Crop Production Services purchased first-year member Ryan Crosby's for $500.

The dairy sale runs a bit differently, with milk sold from Aaron Huber's Grand Champion and cheese from Brenda Crosby's Reserve. The premiums for these two are split in two - half for the exhibitor and the remainder shared amongst the other project members. Each of these brought $600. Huber's Grand Champion was won by Greensburg Power of the Past. Crosby's Reserve Grand Champion went to Indiana Farm Bureau Insurance, Farm Bureau Inc. and Farmer's Mutual.

Fourteen sheep were then sold, with Kristine Wallpe's Reserve Grand Champion Market Lamb bringing $650 from Neal's Chop Shop and Hilliard Lyons. Abby Denton's lamb went to Fifth Third Bank for $275 while Hannah Sallee's lamb was purchased by Dave O'Mara Contractors for $350. Aaron Bruns' lamb was purchased by Greensburg Power of the Past for $450 while Baili Ewing's went to Smiley Farms for $300.

Next to hit the auction block were 38 goats. Sammi Brewsaugh's Grand Champion Boer Wether was purchased by Stone's Farm Service for $725, and Kevin Beaver's Grand Champion Pigmy Wether was purchased by Decatur County Farm Bureau and Best Equipment. Jeffrey White's Reserve Grand Champion Dairy Wether was purchased by Rural King for $350. Napoleon State had the winning bid for Emma Spreckleson's goat with a total of $300. Don Meyer Ford purchased first-year member Camryn Mayhugh's pigmy goat for $400 and Best Equipment purchased Sydnie Young's goat for the same amount.

Swine, once again the most populous project at the fair, put 106 animals up for auction. Quentin Dieckmann's Grand Champion went to Smith Implement, Miller Equipment, Stone's Farm Service, Best Equipment and Farm Credit Services for $1,700. The Reserve Grand Champion, exhibited by Morgan Grote, went to Shelby Crop Insurance, First Federal and Don Meyer Ford for $1,300. American Growers Crop Insurance purchased ten-year member Abby Coy's pig for $375 while Trevor Crites' animal sold for $275 to Napoleon State Bank.

The poultry portion of the sale included 25 meat pens, five of which were from first-year members of the project. Noah Nobbe's Grand Champion pen went to Mainsource Bank, Mainsource Insurance and Acra Automotive Group for $300. The Reserve Grand Champion pen, exhibited by Rebecca Wessel, brought $250 with a bid from Midtown Diner in New Point. Jacob and Sam Springmeyer both decided to contribute half of their proceeds this year to the 4-H scholarship program. Jacob's pen brought $475 from Premier Ag while Sam's went for $425.

The day came to a close with the sale of rabbits, of which there were seven meat pens. Tenea Herbert's Grand Champion pen brought $475 from Clifty Concessions. The Reserve Grand Champion pen, exhibited by Sarah Bohman, brought $375 from the Decatur County Fair Board. Misha Pearl's rabbits were purchased by Mainsource Bank and Mainsource Insurance for $225 while her brother Zeb Pearl's rabbits went to Midtown Diner for $300.

Mainsource Bank not only tallied and documented the auction but also purchased a number of animals from the 4-Hers. Other businesses also pitched in for the cause, and a full list of purchasers will be published in a future edition of the Daily News.