The Governor’s Blue Ribbon Meat Products Auction at the Wisconsin State Fair celebrated its 26th year. In total, this year’s auction raised more than $130,000. 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.
Governor Walker hosted the Auction, with emcee Bob Meyer, Ag Loan Officer with Citizens State Bank of Loyal. Auctioneers for the evening were Bob Johnson, Milton; Gary Finley, Walworth and David Allen, the 2017 Champion of the Wisconsin Auctioneer’s Association Competition, from Cross Plains. In addition, serving as the auction’s ringmen were Ben Brancel, Wisconsin Secretary of Agriculture, Scott Gunderson, Heidi Miller, 2017 Wisconsin Champion Ringman, past champions of the Wisconsin Champion Ringman competition including Tim Miller, 2011 Champion, Rodney Freymiller, 2010 Champion, Scott Werlein, 2009 Wisconsin State Champion Auctioneer, Wayne Yoder, 2008 Wisconsin State Champion Auctioneer, Tim Slack, Wisconsin Auctioneers Association Past President, WAA Hall of FAME and 2004 Wisconsin State Champion Auctioneer and Dave Koning.
Among those attending the auction were: Kathleen O’Leary, CEO Wisconsin State Fair Park, Ray Cross, President of the UW System, Kathleen Sandeen, Chancellor of UW-Extension and many other dignitaries and supporters of 4-H.
The 2017 Best of Show Award went to meat processor Wyttenbach Meats of Prairie du Sac. The company earned the honor for its Ultimate Bacon. It sold to Pagel’s Ponderosa, Ron’s Wisconsin Cheese and John T. Pagel for $16,000. It was generously donated back and resold to Wisconsin Souvenir Milkcaps for $6,000.
The Grand Champion, 1st Reserve Champion and 2nd Reserve Champion Winners for each of the categories are:
FLAVORED BACON
Grand Champion
Wyttenbach Meats, Prairie du Sac
Buyer: Salm Partners for $10,000
1st Reserve Champion
Julius Falkavage, LLC /People’s Meat Market, Stevens Point
Buyer: Klements Sausage for $2,750
2nd Reserve Champion
Karl’s Country Market, Menomonee Falls
Buyer: Wells Fargo for $3,000
BONE-IN HAM
Grand Champion
Louie’s Finer Meats, Cumberland
Buyer: Riteway Bus Company, Cousin’s Subs, Saz’s, LeRoy Haeuser Rural Mutual Insurance, Rural Mutual Insurance, Boehlke Bottle Gas
Sale Price: $8,100 (New record)
1st Reserve Champion
Sailer’s Food Market and Meat, Elmwood
Buyer: Meijer
Sale Price: $5,000
*Generously donated back and resold to Hartmann Sand & Gravel for $2,500.
2nd Reserve Champion
The Meat Block, LLC, Greenville
Buyer: Wisconsin Souvenir Milkcaps
Sale Price: $2,500
FLAVORED SUMMER SAUSAGE
Grand Champion
Haen Meat Packing Inc., Kaukauna
Buyer: Cooperative Resources International (CRI)
Sale Price: $3,000
1st Reserve Champion
Eden Meat Market, Eden
Buyer: Schenck
Sale Price: $3,000
2nd Reserve Champion
Maplewood Meats, Green Bay
Buyer: Rural Mutual Insurance and Wisconsin Farm Bureau
Sale Price: $2,500
DRIED OR SMOKED BEEF
Grand Champion
Louie’s Finer Meats, Cumberland
Buyer: Jim Reid
Sale Price: $2,500
1st Reserve Champion
Maplewood Meats, Green Bay
Buyer: Country Fresh Meats
Sale Price: $2,000
*Generously donated back and resold to Meijer for $1,200.
*Generously donated back a second time and resold to Daluge Travel – Rick & Peggy Daluge for $500.
2nd Reserve Champion
Wyttenbach Meats, Prairie du Sac
Buyer: Randy Schopen Foundation
Sale Price: $1,600
TRADITIONAL SNACK SAUSAGES
Grand Champion
Lake Geneva Country Meats, Lake Geneva
Buyer: Merwin Farms
Sale Price: $5,000 (New record)
1st Reserve Champion
Haen Meat Packing, Kaukauna
Buyer: Bob and Jill Nieskes
Sale Price: $2,000
2nd Reserve Champion
Harry Hansen Meat Service, Franksville
Buyer: Racine County Fair
Sale Price: $1,750
SPECIALTY COOKED BRATWURST
Grand Champion
Louie’s Finer Meats, Cumberland
Buyer: Country Fresh Meats
Sale Price: $2,000
*Generously donated back and resold to Crane Farms for $1,000.
1st Reserve Champion
Leroy Meats, Horicon
Buyer: Recognition Specialists
Sale Price: $800
2nd Reserve Champion
Haen Meat Packing, Kaukauna
Buyer: Schenck SC
Sale Price: $1,000
WHOLE MUSCLE JERKY
Grand Champion
Eden Meat Market, Eden
Buyer: Gibbsville Implement
Sale Price: $1,500
1st Reserve Champion
Northwoods Locker, Clayton
Buyer: J&S Machine, Inc.
Sale Price: $1,300
2nd Reserve Champion
Lake Geneva Country Meats, Lake Geneva
Buyer: Town Bank
Sale Price: $3,100
CURED SPECIALTY MEAT PRODUCT
Grand Champion – Ultimate Bacon
Wyttenbach Meats, Prairie du Sac
Buyer: Country Fresh Meats
Sale Price: $2,000
*Generously donated back and resold to Dave and Kim Daniels and Rural Mutual Insurance for $1,000.
1st Reserve Champion
Louie’s Finer Meats, Cumberland
Buyer: Daluge Travel – Rick & Peggy Daluge
Sale Price: $1,250
2nd Reserve Champion
Kewaskum Frozen Foods, Kewaskum
Buyer: Egg Innovations
Sale Price: $1,500
KIELBASA OR SMOKED SAUSAGE
Grand Champion
Geiss Meat Service, Merrill
Buyer: Country Fresh Meats
Sale Price: $2,000
1st Reserve Champion
Lake Geneva Country Meats, Lake Geneva
Buyer: Hull Farms and Bill Thompson
Sale Price: $4,000
2nd Reserve Champion
Louie’s Finer Meats, Cumberland
Buyer: Country Fresh Meats, Meijer, Egg Innovations, Wisconsin Souvenir Milkcaps
Sale Price: $5,000
Two other items were auctioned off benefiting the Wisconsin 4-H Foundation and Wisconsin 4-H youth. A Wisconsin Package, including a Wisconsin-shaped Summer Sausage courtesy of Kewaskum Frozen Foods of Kewaskum and cheese donated by the Wisconsin State Fair Dairy Promotion Board, was purchased by Hartmann Sand and Gravel for $1,600.
A Five-Foot Party Board that included six flavors of summer sausage, six flavors of snack sausages and a variety of Wisconsin cheeses, provided by Brandon Meats & Sausage of Brandon, was purchased by Wells Fargo for $1,700.
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 $5,000 was donated by these generous vendors.
The auction is produced in partnership with the Wisconsin 4-H Foundation and Wisconsin State Fair and the Wisconsin Association of Meat Processors (WAMP). Generous supporters include Meijer, Egg Innovations, Salm Partners, Schenck SC, Wells Fargo Bank, Rupena’s Fine Foods of Milwaukee, and Wisconsin Association of Meat Processors.
Source: http://www.fabulousfarmbabe.net/2017/08/09/wyttenbach-meats-named-best-in-show/?fbclid=IwAR3xlQNWsvUGA7Rz_9RvSQJt5tS-X1kOJpeeZYZKdR259d1Bd7k6dbf-6L4
