By By NORMA LERNER / Cassopolis Vigilant
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, up from $1.50 per pound last year.
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., for $1.50 per pound, totaling $2,010.
The gallon of milk representing the youth dairy projects sold to Butch Bender for $1,100. 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.
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.
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.