FORT WAYNE — June 26’s Allen County 4-H Livestock Auction was the official end of the county fair. For some area agriculture students, this year’s fair marks the closing of one chapter and the opening of another. For others, it’s a chance to get one more year of agriculture experience under their belts.

With high school graduation a couple of weeks ago, some area students are headed on to college. However, they had one last chance to show their animals and participate in the sale.

The 2023 auction raised a total of $92.835 on 87 animals. That’s quite an increase over the $62,946 raised on 97 animals last year.

The largest total for an animal was $7,650 for a meat wether (goat) from Brenna Lake. This broke a record from 2016.

Also, the fair donated one goat and eight hogs to the local food bank. This was paid for by Indiana Farm Bureau.

For rising Churubusco High School senior Mallory Schaeffer, first 4-H and then FFA have been ways of life since she was in third grade. She has been a livestock judge at Busco.

Schaeffer showed a meat goat at the livestock auction. She said she typically doesn’t name her animals. “You just have to auction them,” she said.

She’s done poultry, as well as raising and showing an alpaca, which are sold as pets.

But she said her years in ag programs have taught her valuable lessons that will follow her through life.

One of Schaeffer’s favorite things about growing up in ag, she said, has been the friendships she’s developed.

Schaeffer plans to go on to college, but is undecided as far as a course of study.

Recent Carroll graduate Gwen Brubaker, meanwhile, leaves with the coveted 4H 10-year member honor. She’ll be headed to Purdue University’s main campus in West Lafayette.

Brubaker will be looking to major in ag science with a food science emphasis. She’d like to eventually do something in the area of product development.

Brubaker said she’d especially like to work on developing less processed foods. “There’s a lot of ways you can go with a food science degree,” Brubaker said, including perhaps starting one’s own company.

Brubaker said she’s also treasured the relationships built through her involvement in ag. Like many 4H students, she started in third grade.

Brubaker also brought a meat goat to sell at the fair. She, however, names her animals: Her goat was named Pele.

Being involved in ag, especially raising your own animals, teaches responsibility, Brubaker said: All those early mornings getting up to feed your animal. Her family raises their own goats. “Your animals eat before you do.”

Saying goodbye to an animal you’ve raised is always hard, Brubaker said. “You always cry … it’s part of the process,” Brubaker said. “After 10 years, you get used to it … you kind of let your tears out, and then you’re OK.”

But it’s also part of the food chain. “We have to eat,” Brubaker said. “That’s what farmers are for.”

Being in ag all these years has left Brubaker well-equipped for whatever direction her life takes after college at Purdue, she said.