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Money raised by the Governor’s Blue Ribbon Meat Products Auction at the state fair supports 4-H activities.

August 20, 2019

4 Min Read
grilled sausages closeup
SUPPORTING 4-H: Proceeds from the auction benefit the Wisconsin 4-H Foundation and will help pay for conferences, teaching materials and workshops.Getty Images

The Governor’s Blue Ribbon Meat Products Auction at the Wisconsin State Fair celebrated its 28th year. In total, this year’s auction raised nearly $100,000. Proceeds from the auction benefit the Wisconsin 4-H Foundation, which supports Wisconsin 4-H activities including 4-H conferences, teaching materials and workshops, and overall development of 4-H youth.

Mistress of ceremonies Pam Jahnke, radio and TV agricultural reporter, kicked off the night before master of ceremonies Ben Brancel, Endeavor, and auctioneer Bob Johnson, Milton, sold 28 champion, reserve champion and honorable mention meat products. Among those attending the auction were Kathleen O’Leary, CEO of Wisconsin State Fair Park; Ray Cross, president of the University of Wisconsin System; Brad Pfaff, Wisconsin secretary of agriculture; and other 4-H supporters.

John Yingling, Wisconsin State Fair chairman of the board, presented the 2019 Best of Show Award to meat processor Louie’s Finer Meats of Cumberland. Louie’s earned the honor for its Old World Sausage. It sold to a consortium of Hartmann Sand and Gravel and Kewaskum Meats for $2,500.

The grand champion, first reserve champion and honorable mention winners and their buyers for each of the categories are:

Flavored Bacon

  • Grand champion: Karl’s Country Market, Menomonee Falls; buyer was Randy Schopen Memorial Foundation for $2,500

  • 1st reserve: Sailer’s Food Market and Meat Processing, Elmwood; buyer was Meijer Inc. for $2,000; donated back and resold to Jones Family Farms for $1,600

  • Honorable mention: Wyttenbach Meats, Praire du Sac; buyer was Wisconsin Souvenir Milkcaps for $1,400

Bone-in Ham

  • Grand champion: Louie’s Finer Meats Inc., Cumberland; buyer was consortium of Boehlke Bottled Gas, Cousin’s Subs, GoRiteway, LeRoy Haeuser and Saz’s for $4,500

  • 1st reserve: Sailer’s Food Market and Meat Processing, Elmwood; buyer was Daluge Travel for $2,000

  • Honorable mention: The Meat Block LLC, Greenville; buyer was Egg Innovations for $1,300

Flavored Summer Sausage 

  • Grand champion: Louie’s Finer Meats Inc., Cumberland; buyer was Meijer Inc. for $2,000

  • 1st reserve: The Meat Block LLC, Greenville; buyer was Rural Mutual Insurance for $1,600; donated back and resold to Wisconsin Farm Bureau for $800; donated back and resold to Meijer Inc. for $1,000; donated back and resold to consortium of Badger State Auction and Real Estate, Kay and Duane Bunting, MaryBeth Carr, and Wisconsin Souvenir Milkcaps for $600

  • Honorable mention: Sixth Street Market, Ashland; buyer was Egg Innovations for $650

Dried or Smoked Beef

  • Grand champion: Louie’s Finer Meats Inc., Cumberland; buyer was Daluge Travel for $1,250

  • 1st reserve: Sailer’s Food Market and Meat Processing, Elmwood; buyer was Rural Mutual Insurance for $750; donated back and resold to Meijer Inc. for $400

  • Honorable mention: Wyttenbach Meats, Praire du Sac; buyer was Jeff Swenson for $500

Traditional Snack Sausages

  • Grand champion: Karl’s Country Market, Menomonee Falls; buyer was Meijer Inc. for $2,600

  • 1st reserve: Wyttenbach Meats, Prairie du Sac; buyer was consortium of Major Goolsby’s and Ultimate Confections for $800

  • Honorable mention: The Meat Block LLC, Greenville; buyer was Merwin Farms for $1,000

Specialty Cooked Bratwurst

  • Grand champion: The Meat Block LLC, Greenville; buyer was consortium of Boehlke Bottled Gas, Cousin’s Subs, GoRiteway, LeRoy Haeuser and Saz’s for $1,250

  • 1st reserve: Sailer’s Food Market and Meat Processing, Elmwood; buyer was Crane Farms for $1,250

  • Honorable mention: Ray’s Market, Colby; buyer was Hartmann Sand and Gravel for $1,600

Restructured Jerky

  • Grand champion: Ray’s Market, Colby; buyer was consortium of Badger State Auction and Real Estate, and Egg Innovations for $1,500

  • 1st reserve: Karl’s Country Market, Menomonee Falls; buyer was Randy Schopen Memorial Foundation for $500

  • Honorable mention: Northwoods Locker LLC, Clayton; buyer was Gibbsville Implement for $550

Cured Specialty Meat Product

  • Grand champion: Geiss Meat Service, Merrill (beef bacon); buyer was consortium of Rural Mutual Insurance and Wisconsin Farm Bureau for $1,500; donated back and resold to Crane Farms for $600

  • 1st reserve: Wilson Farm Meats, Elkhorn (cottage bacon); buyer was consortium of Jones Family Farm, Merwin Farms, Town Bank and Bill Thompson for $4,500

  • Honorable mention: Sailer’s Food Market and Meat Processing, Elmwood (Canadian bacon); buyer was Gibbsville Implement for $1,250

Dry/Semi-Dry Sausage

  • Grand champion: Louie’s Finer Meats Inc., Cumberland; buyer was Meijer Inc. for $1,700; donated back and resold to Crane Farms for $600

  • 1st reserve: Karl’s Country Market, Menomonee Falls; buyer was Crane Farms for $700

  • Honorable mention: Geiss Meat Service, Merrill; buyer was Recognition Specialists for $900 

Another item was auctioned off benefiting the Wisconsin 4-H Foundation and Wisconsin 4-H youth. A Wisconsin-shaped summer sausage courtesy of Kewaskum Frozen Foods of Kewaskum was purchased by Kewaskum Frozen Foods for $2,500, and donated back to be resold to Egg Innovations for $1,600.

Throughout the day of the sale, various Wisconsin State Fair vendors donated a portion of their sales to the Meat Productions Auction and Wisconsin 4-H Foundation. In total, over $2,000 was donated by these generous vendors.

Source: Wisconsin 4-H, which is solely responsible for the information provided and is wholly owned by the source. Informa Business Media and all its subsidiaries are not responsible for any of the content contained in this information asset.

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