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Despite economy, meat animal sale turns into payday

Photo

Photo by Dan Lassiter

Kallista Kuhlow of Bradford 4-H dances like a pig as she and her sisters, Courtney, left, and Chelsea perform a skit to sell their six pigs during the meat animal sale at the Rock County 4-H Fair on Friday.

JANESVILLE — Amidst the squeals, moos and baas, a murmur of subdued excitement buzzed through the sale barn during Friday’s meat animal sale.

The auctioneer rambled in what sounded like gibberish to bystanders, but was completely clear to the buyers vying for Jessica Duoss’ grand champion barrow.

Throughout the sale, the auctioneer would stop to coax bidders such as Woodman’s Foods and the Rock County Pork Producers to push bids higher, eventually getting $11 a pound for Duoss’ 266-pound barrow, a total of $2,926.

Even in a slumping economy, the sale went well, said Randy Thompson, UW Extension dairy and livestock agent.

“I was overwhelmed by the response of the businesses and community members and their support of the youth and 4-H and FFA,” Thompson said.

This year, gross sales boomed to $349,820, a 7.8 percent increase over last year’s total of $322,521.

This year also brought an increase in buyers. About 100 new buyers registered for Friday’s sale.

“It’s always encouraging to see the different businesses and different individuals that come to support the sale,” he said.

Youth participation has remained has remained steady, Thompson said.

There were 605 head that went through the sale arena, an increase of five animals from last year. But Thompson said despite the small increase, the Rock County 4-H Fair would be the “envy” of most county fairs as far as participation, noting that more than 300 exhibitors took part in Friday’s sales.

Hogs brought in $186,000 more than last year. The average price per pound was $1.81, which broke last year’s average by 50 cents.

“That got the sale started off and things held throughout the day,” Thompson said.

Youth selling their animals get the sale amount minus a 1 percent commission.

Buyers can have the meat processed for their own use or donate it to a charity. Another option is to put the animal into the resale program.

In that case, the buyers are paid the market price for the animal. Market price is significantly less than what a buyer paid for the animal at the sale.

ROCK COUNTY 4-H FAIR MEAT ANIMAL SALE BY THE NUMBERS

Sheep

Lambs sold: 123

Total sale cost for all animals: $35,240.75.

Average price per animal: $286.51

Market price: 75 centers per pound.

Grand champion lamb: Shown by Derrick Duoss, Milton FFA. The 150-pound lamb sold for $10 a pound and was purchased by Woodman’s.

Reserve champion lamb: Shown by Jessica Duoss, Milton FFA, The 132-pound lamb sold for $5.50 a pound and was purchased by Lee Marklin.

Barrows

Barrows sold: 398

Total cost for all animals: $184,663.45.

Average price per animal: $463.98.

Market price: 52 cents per pound.

Grand champion barrow: Shown by Jessica Duoss, Milton FFA. The 267-pound barrow sold for a pound and was purchased for $11 a pound by the Rock County Pork Producers.

Reserve grand champion barrow: Shown by Allison Luety, Bradford 4-H. The 262-pound barrow sold for $5.50 a pound and was purchased by Woodman’s.

Steers

Steers sold: 84.

Total cost for all the animals: $129,848.64.

Average price per animal: $1,545.82.

Market price: 90 cents a pound.

Grand champion steer: Shown by Katherine Johnson, Turtle 4-H. The 1,336-pound steer sold for $3 a pound and was purchased by Woodman’s.

Reserve grand champion: Shown by Reiley Oaks, Harmony 4-H. The 1,278-pound steer was sold for $1.50 a pound and was purchased by Arndt Trucking.

Top buyers

Woodman’s, 38 animals $23,963.20

Seneca Foods, 18, $15,642.46

Millard Grain, 8, $6,968.91

Top buyer groups

Clinton FFA Alumni, 32, $17,436.91

Edgerton FFA Alumni, 22, $12,400.75

Evansville FFA Alumni, 17, $11,559.80