Livestock sales top $870,000 for 2015 Barry County Fair Poultry sale goes on without birds
Auctioneer Leon Casey acknowledges a bidder with a “Yup” and a wave of his hand toward the auctioneer. by Julie Makarewicz Staff Writer 4-H supporters did it again. They set a new sales record at the Barry County Fair livestock auctions. All livestock sold at the fair this year totaled $870,112. The large animal sale, with swine, sheep and beef animals, brought in $740,660. In addition, the gallon of milk from the supreme champion dairy cow sold for $23,027 for a total of $763,687 at the large animal auction. The small livestock auction of goats, rabbits and chickens brought in $39, 273. Dairy feeder calves are not sold as part of either auction, but instead are sold at a silent auction during the week. The feeder calves sold for $67,152. That brings the grand total of all livestock sales during the 2015 fair to a whopping $870,112. “Our 4-H kids have done very well,” said fair board president Dennis Redman. “The buyers have come out again and really continue supporting the kids. It’s a great fair, and we have great support. It’s amazing.” 4-H members thanked their buyers with handshakes, notes and large signs
throughout the barns acknowledging their buyers. More than 1,000 youths are enrolled in the Barry County 4-H projects and numbers continue to stay strong in most project areas. The large animal sale increased its numbers selling 584 animals for a total of $740,660. That number includes the 85 steers, 95 lambs and 404 pigs sold. Last year, the sheep, swine and beef sale total was $694,466. There were 86 more animals sold this year compared to a year ago, with much of the increase in the swine project. There were 404 pigs sold at fair this year compared to 332 in 2014. Steers and lambs were also up with 85 steers sold this year compared to 79 a year ago, and 95 lambs this year compared to 87 a year ago. Average prices per pound in 2015 for all beef sold was $3.40; swine was $3.12; and lambs was $4.36. The gallon of milk from the supreme dairy cow is shared among all the 4-H dairy participants with the owner of the supreme champion getting a bonus. The 122 donors contributed to the gallon of milk purchase raising $23,027.
The small animal auction Thursday night was a little different than normal without the live birds to sell. Because of the bird ban in effect, no live poultry was allowed at the fair this year. But 4-Hers were still able to sell their birds raised at home. Instead of the live birds at the auction, the 4-H members displayed 8-by-10
Despite a statewide ban on live birds at the fair this year because of the bird flu outbreak, 4-H members were still able to compete in contests and sell their market birds at the auction. Macain Simmons shows buyers a picture of himself with his bird, rather than physically having his bird at the sale. photos of themselves with their birds taken at their homes. The buyers then received those photos and will have the birds delivered after processing. Total small animal sales were $39,273, down from a year ago when the sale totaled $45,825. But the number of small animals sold was also down. This year there were 82 poultry
units sold, 18 rabbit units sold, and 24 goats for a total of 134 units sold. An emotional moment came during the livestock sale when Paden Morris sold his steer. Paden’s mother, Jane Morris, died unexpectedly during fair week. She was a club leader and 4-H supporter for many years and a former Barry County 4-H member. Paden had no idea a
group of community members had gotten together to purchase his steer for $10 per pound as a way of showing support for the Morris family. This just goes to show what community means in Barry County,” said the auctioneer clerk after the sale, which prompted a round of applause by everyone in the show arena.
The large animal auction was well attended and buyers were eager to bid on all the livestock Friday.