Quality animals, quality kids and quality buyers made the 30th annual Purple Ribbon Auction a celebration of purple ribbon people and animals. The annual parade of champion beef, lambs, goats and swine set seven new record prices. The auction raised more than $305,000 in additional premium dollars from 89 head for Minnesota 4-H youth and programs.

The Reserve Champion Dairy Steer shown by Katelyn Smith of Freeborn County tied the record of $6,600 when all was said and done for a purchasing group made up of the Albert Lea Seed House, AgStar and the Minnesota State Fair Concessionaires.

The Reserve Champion Barrow shown by Zachary Williamson of Freeborn County was purchased for $4,100 by the partnership of Pioneer Hi-Bred Seeds, ADM Alliance Nutrition, Minnesota Farm Bureau and Rodney Wayne. The Reserve Champion Market Gilt exhibited by Sarah Orban of Freeborn County brought Monsanto and AgStar together as they partnered with the final $2,500 bid.

Proceeds from the Purple Ribbon Livestock Auction go to the winning 4-H youth and 20 percent of the funds are designated to further Minnesota 4-H, the Minnesota 4-H Foundation and the auction scholarships. Twenty 4-H Livestock Auction Scholarships were awarded this year from the premiums received last year and matching dollars thanks to the generous support of AgStar Home Mortgage, Hormel Foods, LA-CO Industries, John Morrell & Co., Thousand Hills Cattle Co., SMSC Business Council, Corn Roast, Paramount Attractions, Winkel Enterprises, John Story Consulting, Interstate Power Systems and individual supporters Richard and Bonnie Compart, Kent Thiesse and Greg Harder.

The Minnesota Purple Ribbon Auction is sponsored by the Minnesota Livestock Breeders Associaton each year.