2019 Logan County Fair

2019 Logan County Fair LINCOLN DAILY NEWS July 28-August 4, 2019 Page 279 The annual 4-H Livestock Auction drew a small crowd with open wallets to the show pavilion Sunday afternoon. Bidding took place on livestock the kids had shown during the week. The livestock entries included rabbits, poultry, pigs, sheep and cattle. The 4-H youngsters paraded their animals around the ring one last time hoping to gain high bids from the audience. Auctioneers Dan Naughton, Mike Maske, Reid Sanert and Les Payne encouraged the audience to make high bids on the livestock as Chelsea Coers read off kid’s names and the animal up for auction. The 4-H auction is an important part of the fair for the kids, who receive the money bid on an animal. This money helps contribute to the cost of raising and showing the animal, which can be substantial. In addition to high feed costs, there are also veterinary costs for health checks the animals must have to qualify. Those showing animals have also put much time and effort in. Reaping a healthy bid for all that has gone into showing an animal is rewarding. Amy Naughton, who was keeping the records of the items, bids and purchasers said the auction really helps with the various programming costs incurred when the kids must spend so much money and time preparing for the shows. The money also helps some of them pay for college. The buyers pay the amount of the bid minus the market prices, which is currently $1.10 per pound for steers, 55 cents per pound for barrows [male pigs] and $1.50 per pound for wether sheep. Fifteen steers were between 1,050 and 1,330 pounds received bids ranging from $1.20 to $3.50 per pound. The top sale of the day was for Vivienne Pratt’s 1,260-pound prize-winning Simmental steer, which was purchased for $3,024 by group that included Chris Graue with Chevy, Gehrke Farms, Wayne Litwiller Excavating, CONTINUE 4-H SUNDAY, AUGUST 4, 2019 Annual 4-H Livestock Auction supports future animal husbandry By Angela Reiners Photos by Derek Hurley