Livestock auction brings in $189,940

Sunday, July 29, 2007
Katherine Oliver's Grand Champion Dairy Steer sold for $4,100, which brought a record $2.69 per pound for a dairy steer.

When the last rabbit belonging to Tyler Archer left the livestock ring around 11 p.m. Friday night, the final numbers were crunched revealing the that the 2007 Putnam County livestock sale brought in a total of $189,940.

That was the total of the buyers' contribution of out of pocket money over the base price of the animal. Last year's sales were $190,000.

Sales were down less than $1,000 this year but there were 19 fewer animals sold, which might account for the difference, fair officials stated.

Several things stood out at this year's auction. A new record sale in the sheep category happened when Jordan Berry's Reserve Grand Champion sheep sold for $2,000 beating the old record of $1,180. He is the son of Bill and Sherry Berry, Roachdale. The 127 pound lamb was purchased by the Friends of Jordan Berry.

"The sale went well this year," reported Auctioneer Jeff Rich. "Every year we get a great group of businesses, community leaders and families who come to support the kids and our 4-H program," he added. Rich's auctioneering partner Rick Parent said he also thought the sale went well.

Top seller of the auction was Jordan Zarings' Reserve Grand Champion Crossbred steer, purchased by the Friends of Jordan Zaring. The animal weighed in at 1,245 pounds. Debbie and Jake Zaring are Jordan's parents. They reside at Fillmore.

Devan Buis' Grand Champion Steer was the second high seller of the auction. Devan is the son of Darrin and Chris Buis, Cloverdale. His steer was purchased by a large consortium of buyers.

This year's auction saw 143 bidders returning from last year with 56 new buyers.

Another pleasant phenomenon reported by Auction Chairman Pam Gardner was the contribution by 10-year 4-H members Tyler Archer, Chelsea Mann, Christine Moore and the family of Lee and Cory Fordice along with Mindy and Kristin Fordice, who all made donations to fair barns from their sales. Archer donated 10 percent of his sale to the rabbit barn and another 10 percent to the Putnam County Philanthropy Endowment. Christine Moore donated $150 of her sale to the rabbit barn. Chelsea Mann split $1,000 between the sheep and swine barns and Lee and Cory Fordice along with Mindy and Kristin gave $2,000 to the swine barn. Ashlyn Archer also contributed 10 percent of her rabbit sale to the Putnam County Philanthropy Endowment.

"This was a really fine thing these kids did. I want people to know about them," Hayes told the BannerGraphic.

Total sales in each division were as follows: 32 goats sold for $7,185, 11 poultry for $1,170, 18 beef steers for $73,250, 18 dairy steers for $21,650, 40 sheep for $15,025, 156 swine for $58,010 and 16 rabbits for $3,650.

Fair Board President Ken Heeke was pleased with the number of buyers and their willingness to hang on until the end of the show.

"It's always good when buyers stay to the end. Sometimes after the steer and swine sell buyers drop off. It was good to see so many companies and families participating," he commented.

The top 10 buyers who spent the most money, opposed to the largest number of animals purchased, were Co-Alliance as the top buyer of the evening followed by York Pontiac, Friends of Jordan Zaring, Buzzi Unicem, Crider and Crider, Cash Concrete, First Financial, Dixie Chopper, Rockville Livestock and First National Bank.

"This was another successful year. You can usually tell early on by the way people are spending," Rich said. "It's so good to see the community and families supporting the hard work of these kids."

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