A record $34,600 was raised from the sale of dairy product baskets representing the Supreme Champion Dairy Cow, Supreme Champion Dairy Heifer, Supreme Dairy Showperson and the Grand Champion Cheese at the 4th annual Michigan Livestock Expo Sale-abration auction, July 17 at the Michigan State University (MSU) Pavilion for Agriculture and Livestock Education in East Lansing. The record amount topped last year's total by $1,600.
A majority of the funds generated from the sale of the dairy lots will be returned to the statewide dairy youth fund of the Michigan Youth Livestock Scholarship Fund. The dairy portion of the fund supports dairy youth programs through educational grants and scholarships, as well as dairy youth program activities, such as the Michigan Youth Dairy Days and related activities. The youth members who exhibited the winning animals or earned the champion showperson award receive $1,000 each.
Dairy Champions Generate Record Bids At Michigan Livestock Expo Sale
Topping the dairy lots at $17,000 was the Supreme Champion Dairy Cow owned by Lucas Moser, Dansville (Ingham County). A group of dairy industry supporters pooled their money to purchase the lot: Michigan Milk Producers Association; the Kroger Co. of Michigan; Foster, Swift, Collins & Smith; Zeeland Farm Services; Calder Dairy; Class Construction; MPC Cashway Lumber; NorthStar Cooperative; and VitaPlus.
The Supreme Champion Dairy Heifer was owned by Parker Hardy, Tipton (Lenawee County). She sold for $5,000 to Meijer.