The Governor’s Blue Ribbon Meat Products Auction at the Wisconsin State Fair celebrated its 31st year by raising over $105,000. 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.
“Enthusiastic 4-H supporters made for an exciting evening,” said Wisconsin 4-H Foundation Executive Director Brenda Scheider. “Seeing our 4-H youth and adult volunteers working next to our generous donors really brings home what 4-H is all about.”
Wisconsin DATCP Secretary, Randy Romanski, kicked off the sale by encouraging the standing-room-only audience to bid high and bid often. Mistress of Ceremonies Pam Jahnke, radio and TV personality, introduced outstanding 4-H members and special guests before Hostess Nicole Barlass, Sheboygan Falls, and Auctioneer Bob Johnson, Milton, sold 28 Champion, Reserve Champion and Honorable Mention meat products.
The auction action paused for a moment to honor longtime 4-H supporter Wally Bohrer, founder of Wisconsin Souvenir Milkcaps, who passed away in 2022. Wally’s family were present to carry on his legacy of generosity.
Wisconsin State Fair Chairman of the Board John Yingling, along with the family of Dennis Buege, presented the 2023 Dennis Buege Best of Show Award to champion processor Wilson Farm Meats of Elkhorn. Wilson Farm Meats earned the honor for its champion entry in the specialty cured meat product division for their “Super Bacon.” It sold to a consortium of Crave Brothers Cheese, Gibbsville Implement, Egg Innovations, UW Provision Company, and Wisconsin River Meats for $11,300.
A Wisconsin Specialty Package featuring local Wisconsin cheese, sausage, wine and bourbon was purchased by Rich and Evelyn Rathke of Sandwood Hill Farm for $3,750. Guest Auctioneer selling this specialty item was 8-year-old Ozaukee County 4-H member, Elsie Hanson, who learned to call through a county 4-H program.
Egg Innovations, a dedicated supporter of the auction and our 4-H Youth, broke two records when they purchased the champion ring bologna created by Roskom Meats for $4,100 and the champion bratwurst created by Geiss Meat Service for $4,600 UW Provision Company also broke a record when they purchased the champion beef jerky created by Bunzel’s for $4,800. A fourth new record was set when buyer Steve Bystad purchased the champion dried or smoked beef product created by Block and Cleaver Artisan Meats for $3,500.
One of the highest-selling items of the night was the champion bone-in ham created by Wilson Farm Meats of Elkhorn that sold for $6,500 to Becky Merwin of Merwin Farms.
The auction is produced in partnership with the Wisconsin 4-H Foundation, Wisconsin State Fair and the Wisconsin Association of Meat Processors (WAMP). The event was sponsored by WAMP and the Wisconsin Beef Council, both long-time supporters of the Governor’s Blue Ribbon Meat Products Auction and the Wisconsin 4-H Foundation.
The Grand Champion, Reserve Champion and Honorable Mention winners and their buyers are:
BACON
Grand Champion from Newton Meats, Newton
Buyer: Gibbsville Implement for $3,500
Reserve Champion from Mr. B’s Smokehouse Meats, Hillsboro
Buyer: UW Provision Company for $3,000
Honorable Mention from Salchert Meats, St. Cloud
Buyer: Saz’s for $2,750
RING BOLOGNA
Grand Champion from Roskom Meats, Kaukauna
Buyer: Egg Innovations for $4,100 (New record!)
Reserve Champion from Karl’s Country Market, Menomonee Falls
Buyer: Wisconsin Souvenir Milkcaps for $2,000
Honorable Mention from Newton Meats, Newton
Buyer: Crane Farms for $2,000
SPECIALTY CURED MEAT PRODUCT
Grand Champion from Wilson Farm Meats, Elkhorn (Super Bacon)
Buyer: Hull Farms of Lake Geneva/Jones Family Farm for $3,750
Reserve Champion from West Bend Sausage Plus, West Bend (Smoked Steak Snacks)
Buyer: Sunnyside Hatchery for $1,750
Honorable Mention from Louie’s Finer Meats, Cumberland (Beef Bacon)
Buyer: UW Provision Company for $2,500
SUMMER SAUSAGE
Grand Champion from Newton Meats, Newton
Buyer: Wisconsin Souvenir Milkcaps for $2,750
Reserve Champion from Block and Cleaver Artisan Meats, Siren
Buyer: Daluge Travel for $1,500
Honorable Mention from Wisconsin River Meats, Mauston
Buyer: UW Provision Company for $2,600
JERKY
Grand Champion from Bunzel’s Meat Market, Milwaukee
Buyer: UW Provision Company for $4,800 (New record!)
Reserve Champion from Wilson Farm Meats, Elkhorn
Buyer: Bill Thompson for $2,500
Honorable Mention from Wisconsin River Meats, Mauston
Buyer: Crave Brothers Cheese for $2,000
DRIED or SMOKED BEEF
Grand Champion from Block and Cleaver Artisan Meats, Siren
Buyer: Steve Bystad for $3,500 (New record!)
Reserve Champion from Louie’s Finer Meats, Cumberland
Buyers: Major Goolsby’s and Ultimate Confections for $2,250
Honorable Mention from Pingel Processing, Shawano
Buyer: UW Provision Company for $1,900
BONE-IN HAM
Grand Champion from Wilson Farm Meats, Elkhorn
Buyer: Merwin Farms for $6,500
Reserve Champion from Geiss Meat Service, Merrill
Buyer: Randy Schopen Memorial Foundation for $2,800
Honorable Mention from Jones Dairy Farm, Fort Atkinson
Buyer: Hartmann Sand and Gravel for $4,250
BRATWURST
Grand Champion from Geiss Meat Service, Merrill
Buyer: Egg Innovations for $4,600 (New record!)
Reserve Champion from West Bend Sausage Plus, West Bend
Buyer: Wisconsin Souvenir Milkcaps for $2,250
Honorable Mention from Louie’s Finer Meats, Cumberland
Buyer: Daluge Travel for $3,000
SNACK SAUSAGE
Grand Champion from Wilson Farm Meats, Elkhorn
Buyer: Gerner Farms for $2,250
Reserve Champion from Karl’s Country Market, Menomonee Falls
Buyer: UW Provision Company for $2,100
Honorable Mention from Wisconsin River Meats, Mauston
Buyer: Crave Brothers Cheese for $2,500
WISCONSIN SPECIALTY ITEM
Buyer: Evelyn and Rich Rathke of Sandwood Hill Farm for $3,750
BEST OF SHOW
Wilson Farm Meats, Elkhorn (Super Bacon)
Buyer Consortium: Crave Brothers Cheese, Gibbsville Implement, Egg Innovations, UW Provision Company, and Wisconsin River Meats for $11,300.
The Wisconsin 4-H Foundation, based in Madison, provides essential funding for 4-H programs throughout Wisconsin. By partnering with individuals, corporations and foundations, the Foundation supports more than 150,000 youth who take part in various 4-H leadership, developments, and community-building activities throughout the state. Learn more about the Wisconsin 4-H Foundation by visiting www.Wis4HFoundation.org.
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