Mike Austin (WTAQ-AM/FM and WDEZ, Green Bay, WI) shared this story about how agriculture and a thankful boy generated help for sick children. Mike begins, “At this year’s Kewaunee County Fair sale, the buyers were very generous in opening up their wallets with prices sometimes reserved only for state fair bidding, as one youth received over $9 a pound for her steer, another boy received more than $17 a pound for his hog, and one lamb brought $30 a pound.” Mike added, “The junior livestock auction at the county fair is always a special event as area agribusinesses and associations pay well above market value to help support and reward youth for their quality livestock project animals.  

Youth then take those dollars and either reinvest them into next year’s project animal or put that money away for future educational needs, or both.” But, something unique happened at this year’s auction. “When 10-year-old Blake Krull entered the ring with his award-winning hog, he announced he was donating $500 dollars of his winning bid to Children’s Hospital of Wisconsin as a thank you for the care he has been receiving there over the first 10 years of his life.”  Mike described that the bidding was going rather briskly when the Algoma FFA Alumni announced that they would cover that $500 donation, which was greeted with a generous round of applause from the nearly packed auction tent. Then, as the bidding continued, two more bidders said they, too, would donate $500 dollars. “What happened next was very special as a wave of bidder cards went up into the air and when all was said and done more than 30 businesses agreed to donate an additional $500 dollars a-piece. So in a matter of less than seven minutes, $15,500 was raised for Children’s Hospital of Wisconsin.” Blake’s mom, Kim, said the idea to donate the money came from Blake, and she was extremely proud of him and was amazed at the outpouring of support and generosity of the rural community of Kewaunee County. She added that once the news of the auction hit the fairgrounds more donors came forward and the final contribution was closer to $22,000.” Mike concludes, “Oh, and for his efforts, Blake did okay as well, receiving $17.75 a pound for his 220-pound hog. A truly memorable moment that teaches us many things including the value in the power of one!”