By By NORMA LERNER / Dowagiac Daily News
CASSOPOLIS - The little pig that had to be warmed in an oven to survive a 10-degree below zero winter night when he was born grew up to be a 280-pound hog that sold at the Cass County Fair Thursday for $9.50 per pound.
The champion market hog sold for $10 per pound last year.
Butch Bender of Cassopolis bought the grand champion hog from Scott Hartsell of Cassopolis for a total of $2,660.
The reserve grand champion market hog owned by Zack Fitzsimons of Vandalia sold to Friends Support Zack for $8.50 per pound, totaling $2,380.
This was up from last year's reserve grand champion market hog that sold for $3.75 per pound.
Rick Hayden of Cassopolis sold his grand champion market steer to Klug Equipment of Eau Claire, Maplewood Farms of Cassopolis and Gary's Custom Meats of Union for $3 per pound, totaling $4,035. Last year's grand champion market steer sold for half as much at $1.50 per pound.
The reserve grand champion market steer owned by Matt Asmus of Vandalia sold for $1.50 per pound to Eddy Sr. and G. Phillip of Goshen, Ind., totaling $2,010.
Last year's reserve grand champion market steer sold for 10 cents less per pound at $1.40.
The gallon of milk representing the youth dairy projects sold to Butch Bender for $1,100, down from $1,800 for the gallon of milk sold last year. The proceeds from the sale are to be divided among youth dairy project exhibitors based on the achievements of their animals at the fair.
The grand champion market lamb owned by Stefany Swartz of Three Rivers sold to Jerz Machine Tool Corporation of Dowagiac for $6.25 per pound, totaling $812.50. This is down from last year's grand champion market lamb that sold for $9 per pound.
The reserve grand champion market lamb owned by Margaret Foltz of Cassopolis sold for $5 per pound to TCG Club Lambs of Niles, totaling $590. Last year's reserve grand champion market lamb sold for $2.25 per pound.
The grand champion dairy feeder steer owned by R. J. Lee of Edwardsburg sold to Sunnybrooke Farms of Berrien Springs for $2.25 per pound, totaling $1,327.50. This was down from last year's grand champion dairy feeder steer that sold for $3 per pound.
The reserve grand champion dairy feeder steer owned by Julie Kater of Niles sold to Marks Brothers of Decatur for $1.50 per pound at $915. Last year's reserve grand champion dairy feeder steer sold for more at $2.10.
The total amount of the livestock sale was not immediately available for the 796 animals that sold this year compared to 830 last year.
Saturday, the last day of the fair held at the fairgrounds on North O'Keefe Street, will feature the grand champion showmanship sweepstakes contest where champions in each livestock category of eight different animal species will compete for the top showmanship award.