Summary: Bidders were generous in writing their checks to support the 4-H livestock program in Tuscarawas County during the Junior Fair Livestock Sale at the county fair, giving over $508,000 to the program.
They were definitely keeping it in the family as siblings Clay and Kayla Scott of Mineral City placed as Grand and Reserve Grand Champion market hogs at the 2012 Tuscarawas County Fair. In addition to the recognition, their hard work and dedication was rewarded at the Thursday evening Livestock Sale, when Clays 271 pound pig brought $10 a pound from bidder Agland Co-Op, Inc. and Kaylas 255 pounder brought $8 per pound from Sugar Valley Meats.
The grand total of $508,940.60 brought in by generous bidders topped the 2011 sale by a whopping $83,205.05. Sold over the course of the evening were 50 lambs at an average of $4.955 per pound; 52 steers averaged $3.09 a pound; and 262 hogs were sold at an average per pound price of $3.865.
As you can see by the numbers, we had a phenomenal sale, noted Dave McCleary of the Market Livestock Committee early Friday morning.
The kids are definitely competitive, admitted Laura Scott, mother of Clay and Kayla. They had some trouble with Kaylas pig not wanting to come out of its pen. Laura Scott noted that Clay took first in his class in 2011, and Kayla took third in hers that same year.
Both of the kids will get a small portion of their sale check for spending, but the majority will go into their bank accounts. Clay worked with his pig every single day, except for about a week in July when he went on a church missions trip to Maytown, Kentucky.
I worked on houses during the missions trip, interjected Clay. He mentioned that he and some friends were exploring ideas for how to spend his money. This morning my friends and I were daydreaming in a magazine of John Deere tractors. But thats over my budget. Clay is also planning on giving a portion of his earnings to a fund set up in memory of beef and 4-H supporter Neil Fry, who until his passing was a fixture as a volunteer in the cattlemans beef trailer each season.
He was my friend Logans grandpa, and he was a beef farmer forever, stated Clay. I just want to give toward that scholarship fund.
Clays dad, Chris, has promised him an engraved belt buckle for winning, but Kayla is more inclined to wish for a pygmy goat for a pet.
We are definitely going to go for it again next year, said Clay.
Mom Laura says that a celebration is in order. It will probably have to wait until after the fair, when we can do something special to celebrate. The kids have a 3 day weekend coming up, so maybe we can do it then.
In other champion sales, the grand champion lamb belonging to Cameron Maurer sold for $19.00 a pound to Kendle Snow Removal and Equipment LG Seed Sale and McDonnell Farms, and Garret Dingers $11.00 per pound reserve lamb went to The New Company. Cargnels Cleaning Service paid $6.00 per pound for Neil Wises grand champion steer, while The New Company purchased Steven Wheelers reserve champion for $3.00 per pound.
I would like to thank each and every person who helped to make the sale a huge success, said McCleary. The buyers, the bidders, and all of the volunteers make this possible.
