Krause sets auction record for second year in a row

By Carol Stender
cstender@agrinews.com

Date Modified: 09/20/2012 9:38 AM

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FALCON HEIGHTS, Minn. — It was hard to wipe the smile off Jed Knutson's face as he waited for the 4-H Purple Ribbon Livestock Auction to start.

The Freeborn County 4-H'er had shown the grand champion market sheep at the Minnesota State Fair. Saturday night he joined 97 other livestock exhibitors at the AgStar Arena for the auction.

One by one, each led or walked their animal into the ring where the auctioneer talked briefly about the animal. The 4-H exhibitors receive 80 percent of their animal's bid with the remaining amount going to the 4-H program. The bidders included ag organizations, companies, county 4-H blue ribbon committees, State Fair concessionaires and former 4-H'ers.

"It means a lot to me that people really care about the 4-H program to come out an support it like this," said the 17-year-old Knutson.

Scott Dingels of Redwood Falls had the reserve market sheep.

"Being able to make it into the auction is a great accomplishment because there are so many good lambs at the state fair," he said. "This is like the icing on the cake."

Nicole Klein of Stearns County took part in the auction for the first time. The Holdingford 4-H'er showed the champion dairy meat goat. It was one thing to show a goat for the first time, but an unexpected pleasure to have the grand champion.

"Wow," said Klein. "I didn't expect this. It's surreal."

Stephanie Krause laid a firm foundation for her sibling's future participation in the auction. Krause received the highest bid of the night — $16,000 — for her grand champion market beef.

The 14-year-old has been in the auction three times.

Her parents are Mike and Lynn.

Watching their sister in the ring were 11-year-old Logan and 8-year-old Elizabeth.

This was the auction's 33rd year. It's called a "Cream of the Crop" sale due to the superior job the 4-H'ers have done selecting, feeding and showing their animals.

The Minnesota Livestock Breeders' Association sponsors of the auction.

Grand champion animals were displayed in the Cattle Barn during the final eight days of the fair.

Watch for next week's Agri News for results from the 2012 Minnesota 4-H Club Purple Ribbon Livestock Auction and other Minnesota State Fair events.