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4-H'ers try to sell potential buyers on their animals

Photo

Submitted photo

Otis Johnson of Evansville 4-H included a photo of himself with a letter to potential buyers of his sheep.

JANESVILLE — It's not easy to make a sale, but these kids just might have the knack.

Otis Johnson, 10, uses his charm and good looks.

Kaylyn Lund, 14, uses her sense of humor; her brother, Parker gets right to the facts.

And the Arndt kids slyly remind you of the last time you ate one of their steaks.

All those kids are looking for buyers for the animals they're showing at the Rock County 4-H Fair.

As most folks know, fair animals end up at Friday's meat animal sale or Saturday's fur and feather sale.

The fair sends out information to potential buyers, but kids are encouraged to court buyers from their communities.

"The kids are involved in the whole process of promoting the sale," said Randy Thompson, UW Extension Dairy and Livestock Agent. "I think a letter from an exhibitor is more meaningful than a letter from the fair with a couple of tickets to get into the gate."

Kaylyn Lund agreed.

"At the pork quality assurance meeting, Randy said he wanted us to send out at least two letters between now and the fair. It kinda makes sense," Lund said. "Last year I sent out 50 letters. This year I sent out 30."

The Lunds get some help from family.

"Our grandpa (Terry Lund Sr.) usually buys the goose," Lund said. "But we don't want him to have to buy everything."

Parker Lund, 12, thinks letters are better than phone calls.

"Either way is good. But in a letter you can really tell them what you have and why they might want to buy them," Parker said. "I think that's better than a quick phone call."

In his letters, Otis Johnson, 10, enclosed an irresistibly cute photo of himself and his sheep.

His mom, Rene Johnson, helped him with the letter.

"It was pretty easy," the younger Johnson said. "My mom gave me ideas, and I wrote them down."

Here are some selections from this year's letters:

Writer: Parker Lund, 12, Evansville 4-H

Style: Just the facts, ma'am.

Excerpt: "This year I have a York and a Hampshire. They are both very good eaters and are getting very big. My sister and I feed and water them twice a day. We keep them cool in their little shed. I walk them every night to build up their muscles. We weigh them every week to make sure they will make weight. My York is long, well-filled-out, and is friendly. My Hampshire is very big and is at the top of his game."

Writers: Hattie Arndt, 15, Craig FFA, and Eliza Arndt, 14, La Prairie 4-H

Style: Happy memories of past steaks.

Excerpt: "Eliza and I have two steers signed up for the carcass beef class at the Rock County Fair. We realize that you might not be ready to purchase more beef just yet, or might be planning to spread the wealth elsewhere this year, but if you know of anyone who might be interested, please have them contact us … Referrals are our best advertising."

Writer: Kaylyn Lund, 14, Evansville 4-H

Style: Lively.

Excerpt: "My pigs this year are ALL personality! Calvin (Poland) is the one that gets discriminated against because his is the only one with floppy ears and Bruno (Berkshire) is always spilling his food then sucking it out of the grass!"