The Greene County Lamb Producers raised more than $2,750 at an auction at their annual banquet Saturday night, with proceeds earmarked for the 2015 community lamb barn project.
About 100 persons attended the family-friendly, alcohol free event. The meal included leg of lamb, lamb kabobs, lamb sliders and lamb chops, all prepared by Lamb Producers board member Dr Steve Karber and his crew. Voice Exchange (pictured), a barbershop quartet with singers from Glidden, Ida Grove and Odebolt, provided entertainment.
4-H members who exhibited champions or received showmanship awards at the 2014 Greene County Fair were recognized, including Emily Finch, Sarah Sandage, Garrett Peterson, Mason Burkett, T.J. Lint, Bailey Godwin, Karissa Stephenson, Connor Gibson, Serenity Blair, Paige Citurs, Kara Reed, Ben Lint, Brock Badger and Kirsten Lamoureux.
After the recognitions were given, Kevin Lentz (left) began the auction with embroidered plaques for the 2015 grand champion and reserve grand champion market lambs at the Greene County Fair. The plaques were custom made by Muir Embroidery, and the names of the sponsoring business will be added to each plaque. Vern Bancroft is holding one of the plaques.
Peoples Trust and Savings Bank of Scranton purchased the grand champion plaque and Muir Embroidery purchased the reserve grand champion plaque. Pictured are Teresa Mobley of Peoples, Lamb Producers president Eldo Walker, and Todd Muir of Muir Embroidery.
A wide variety of other items were auctioned, with most of them donated by members of the Lamb Producers.
Items donated by Jo Anne Schebly had high dollar value and high entertainment value. She made and donated two quilts – a Cyclone quilt and a Hawkeye quilt. Lentz first auctioned the bidder’s choice. The high bidder at $220 took the Cyclone quilt. The Hawkeye quilt netted $185. Pictured with the quilts are (from left) Lentz, Justin Walker, Bancroft, Walker and Bill Taggart.
Shnebly also donated three pairs of capri pants, light blue with white sheep on them. The pants were dehydrated and were in packages not much bigger than a package of cigarettes. On bidder’s choice, Muir Embroidery purchased the extra large pair for $30. Later in the auction the capris, having been put in a pitcher of water and hydrated, were brought back and given to Eldo Walker. Walker held them high and then went to put them on. He modeled the capris on the condition that they be put up for auction a second time. Doug Brown of Brown Performance Horses purchased them on the second go-round for $25.
The Lamb Producers carry the large portion of the expense for the lamb barn project. Karber reminded those at the dinner that the project was implemented to bolster sagging numbers of 4-H members exhibiting sheep at the county fair, and to offer an opportunity to youngsters, particularly those who do not live on farms, to raise livestock.
Last year, the fourth year of the project, 13 4-H members participated. Exhibitors pay $25 each and they’re allowed to keep any premium money they earn. A fundraiser garage sale/bake sale organized by parents of the exhibitors last fall brought in $2,000 for the project. Chery Dideriksen, Linda Hedges, Peg Hoyt, Deb Taggart, Josh Hedges, Bob and Julie Larson and Jeff Lamoureux were thanked for their help with the fundraiser.
There are 16 4-H lamb barn project participants this year, Karber said.
