University of Wisconsin - Extension

Culver's Franchising System showed strong support for Wisconsin 4-H at the Wisconsin 4-H Foundation's twelfth annual Governor's Sweepstakes Meat Products Auction. Craig Culver made the winning bids on the State Fair Grand Champion Ham for $5,000, and the Reserve Grand Champion Summer Sausage for $1,150. The ham was produced by Haen Meat Packing of Kaukauna, and the summer sausage was produced by the Lodi Sausage Company of Lodi. Culver's purchase got the Auction off to a winning start, resulting in a record total of nearly $37,000 raised from auction bids and sponsorships. These funds will be used for Wisconsin 4-H youth programs statewide.

The auction, which was held on August 5th at the Wisconsin State Fair, features all of the award winning meat products from the Wisconsin State Fair Meat Products Contest. The winning entries are then donated to the 4-H Foundation to raise funds in support of nearly 190,000 4-H youth in Wisconsin.

Governor Jim Doyle welcomed the 200+ meat processors, bidders and 4-H supporters, before turning over the gavel to Auctioneer Gary Finley. The Governor was introduced by UW-Extension Chancellor Kevin Reilly. Greg Hutchins, State 4-H Program Leader, was the announcer for the auction.

Other successful bidders were Alferi Laboratories, Little Chute; Booth Brothers & Green Bay Dressed Beef, Milwaukee; Budweiser Pavilion, John Lavin, Pewaukee; Commercial Construction Consulting, Burlington; Rick & Peggy Daluge, Madison; Frantz Company, Butler; Grebe's Bakery, West Allis; Hartmann Sand & Gravel, Fredonia; Herdeman Corporation, Waukesha; Drs.Larry Mahr, Oregon & Dean Peterson, Janesville; Meat Handler Company, Cleveland; Merwin Farms, Lake Geneva; Rupena's Fine Foods, Milwaukee; Rural Insurance, Cedarburg; Sports Service, West Allis; Utility Tool & Machining, Eden; Wisconsin Farm Bureau Federation, Madison.

Fifteen Meat Processors throughout Wisconsin entered their products in the State Fair Meat Products Contest in five categories. The first, second and third place winners of ham, bacon, summer sausage, Polish sausage, and meat snack sticks donated their winning products to the Auction.

The winning meat processors included: Brandon Meats & Sausage, Inc., Brandon; Haen Meat Packing, Inc., Kaukauna; Karl's Country Market, Menominee Falls; Kewaskum Frozen Foods, Kewaskum; Kickapoo Locker Service, Gays Mills; Klement Sausage Company, Inc., Milwaukee; Lodi Sausage Company, Lodi: Louie's Finer Meats, Cumberland and RJ's Meats, Hudson.

In its twelfth year, the Governor's Sweepstakes Meat Products Auction is the single largest fund-raising event for the Wisconsin 4-H Foundation. The Foundation provides support to thousands of 4-H youth around the state by funding a variety of projects, leadership events and educational scholarships.

Sponsors of this year's auction include the Wisconsin 4-H Foundation, the Wisconsin Association of Meat Processors, the University of Wisconsin-Madison Department of Animal Sciences, and the Wisconsin State Fair. Johnsonville Foods, Inc. of Sheboygan Falls; the National Farm Medicine Center, Marshfield Clinic Research Foundation; and Rupena's Fine Foods of Milwaukee are sponsors of the pre-auction reception.

Other Auction contributors included: Brandon Meats & Sausage, Brandon; Desmond's Formal Wear, Milwaukee; Dennis Fisher, Milwaukee; Kewaskum Frozen Foods, Kewaskum; Herb Kohl Charities, Milwaukee; Midwest Airlines, Oak Creek; Mille Lacs Gourmet Foods, a division of The Wisconsin Cheeseman, Inc. of Sun Prairie; Milwaukee Brewers, Milwaukee; Smoky's Club, Madison; Wisconsin Agricultural & Life Sciences Alumni Association, Madison; and Woodman's Food Market, Madison.

For more information on the 2003 Governor's Sweepstakes Meat Products Auction, contact Pat Harrington at (608) 262-1285.