Records fall at fair auction
The 2008 Putnam County 4-H Fair culminated in a livestock auction Friday that netted $179,885.
Although sales totals were down from last year, the number of buyers was up.
"We had 55 new buyers," said auction coordinator Pam Gardner. "That was great. People always step forward to help the kids here."
Two records were broken at this year's auction. Ethan Ames' beef steer sold for $7,750, or $5.89 per pound, beating the old record by $1.06 per pound. Stephanie Berry's reserve champion black face sheep sold for $2,750, or $23.31 per pound, shattering the previous record by $7.56 per pound.
The largest sale for swine was Jordan Berry, whose grand champion barrow sold for $3,000.
Ten-year 4-H members Meagan Handy and Ashlyn Archer tied for top rabbit sales, garnering $400 each for their meat pens. Top sale for goats was $450, made by Kyle McCammack.
Brittany Lady's grand champion meat pen was the top sale for poultry, coming in at $175. In dairy, Izaak Zaring's steer posted the highest sale price, $1,350.
Two 4-H'ers donated auction earnings. Ashlyn Archer's $400 will go to the rabbit barn and the Putnam County Community Foundation, while Lindsey Nichols will send $850 to the Drew Christy Medical Fund.
Animal totals for the sale were: Swine, $67,675; sheep, $13,475; rabbits, $2,700; goats, $7,025; poultry, $1,300; dairy, $18,925; and beef, $68,785.
This year's buyers were Co-Alliance, First National Bank, Heritage Environmental, Cloverdale Agri Center, NSSB, Buzzi Unicem, Fleece Crop Insurance, First Financial Services, Wright Implement, Dixie Chopper, Rockville Livestock Auction, Cash Concrete, Owen Community Bank and Collisi Trucking.