Records fall at fair auction

Monday, July 28, 2008
Volunteer Darwyn Nelson of Cloverdale instructs 2008 Putnam County 4-H Fair Queen's Court member Whitney Warren on how to holler to the auctioneer when bids are made at the fair auction on Friday.

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."

Brianna Bryan of Greencastle conveys a message to buyers with her beef steer at the Putnam County 4-H Fair auction Friday. Bryan's steer sold for $1,600.

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.

A tearful Sabrina Arnold stands in the ring with her goat during Friday's Putnam County 4-H Fair auction.

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.

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  • Many thanks to the generosity of the buyers! For our family, that money goes back into an account for help with next year's 4-H animal projects. This helps our child learn how to manage money and helps her to realize the expenses involved with the birthing, raising, care, maintenance, medical expenses and feeding of her animals. (not to mention all the show equipment and paraphernalia). Extended thanks to ALL 4-H supporters.

    -- Posted by MarilynMonroe on Mon, Jul 28, 2008, at 10:27 AM
  • Evidently our "recession" didn't hurt the fair sale.

    -- Posted by not gullible on Thu, Jul 31, 2008, at 6:56 PM
  • I was once in that auction ring, selling my sheep and chickens with tears in my eyes. The money always went towards the next years projects... so even though they are super inflated, it helps the youth fund their projects for the next year.

    So glad to hear that some of the kids donated their money. I have such a great memory of auctioning off my sister's chicken pen in the week after she died and raising so much money for lupus research.... really selfless of the bidders to bid like they do.

    -- Posted by windex on Wed, Aug 6, 2008, at 9:33 PM
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