ESCANABA – A 16-year-old hog exhibitor at the Upper Peninsula State Fair with cystic fibrosis was surprised at the fair’s livestock auction Saturday when bidders teamed together to support him and his family against the disease.

Dusten Berube of Cornell was the 69th exhibitor at the fair to sell his pig during the livestock auction. Heavy rains and flooding prevented the kids from bringing the pigs to the auction ring. Berube stood alone as the bidding began.

“I didn’t know what was happening,” Dusten said.

Bidders at the State Fair teamed together to buy a $1 a pound on Dusten’s pig. The pig weighed in at 267 lbs. There were 107 bidders in on it. But as the event unfolded, more bidders were added to the bid. In the end, there were 135 bidders involved.

Dusten’s father was overwhelmed with emotion.

“It was crazy. It’s unbelievable,” he said. “I never thought anything like that could happen.”

Dusten had a sister who died from cystic fibrosis. He lives with the disease every day. Even as he takes care of his animals.

“I gotta wake up and do medicines. I gotta do that before I can take care of the animals.” He said it is a struggle.