Despite pandemic, Junior Livestock Sale posts best year yet

Posted 7/28/20

Going into the 2020 Junior Livestock Sale, no one quite knew what to expect.

“We came in unknowing, with a lot of changes and a lot of concerns and in the middle of a pandemic and in the …

This item is available in full to subscribers.

Please log in to continue

E-mail
Password
Log in

Despite pandemic, Junior Livestock Sale posts best year yet

Posted

Going into the 2020 Junior Livestock Sale, no one quite knew what to expect.

“We came in unknowing, with a lot of changes and a lot of concerns and in the middle of a pandemic and in the middle of an economic downturn for certain areas within our county,” said Joe Bridges, chairman of the sale committee.

But Bridges says every time he thinks it’s going to be a rough year, “everybody just surprises me.”

“And that followed true this year,” he said, describing Saturday’s sale as “absolutely fantastic.”

The sale totaled $457,430 at the Park County Fair — surpassing last year’s record-setting sale by more than $43,000.

“I think we hit one out of the park Saturday,” Bridges said.

Right out of the gate, a couple of volume buyers set some prices for the first kids selling their livestock and “just set a standard of where we were gonna be at,” he said.

“And that just really held true throughout the whole sale,” Bridges said.

A total of 235 youth with 4-H and FFA sold their livestock, which was five fewer kids than last year. Overall, average prices were up in 2020 except for beef, with some increasing by about $1 per pound.

“The goats took the biggest jump,” Bridges said, with the average price rising by almost $3 per pound.

Just like last year, a bidding war broke out for Rieta Clark’s goat. It ended up selling for a record-setting $120 a pound to Dean and Stephanie Pettyjohn.

“Never seen that — ever,” Bridges said.

Kadin Tarbett’s goat went for around $35 a pound, he said.

The 2020 sale also saw a record-breaking rabbit at $1,200, with Kaylee DeGlau selling her rabbit to Imagination Station Preschool.

Saturday’s sale drew 40 “volume buyers,” who bought three or more animals.

“That’s an amazing feat in itself,” Bridges said.

A lot of longtime supporters of the sale returned, and quite a few new buyers also stepped up, with some becoming volume buyers.

“The kids did an outstanding job as well of getting out and inviting people and getting the word out,” Bridges said.

For the first time, the 2020 sale included online bidding through MM Auction Services in Powell, so buyers could participate from home or elsewhere.

“The online function worked fantastic for us,” Bridges said. “Quite a few bids came through the internet.”

Bridges said sale leaders will look at whether the online auction is something they’ll continue to do down the road, or if it’s something that was just for this year.

The 2020 sale marked the final one for multiple young people. As Logan Mehling stepped into the ring for his final Junior Livestock Sale, Bridges told everyone gathered that “history has been made in front of us” as Mehling has won more than any other 4-H or FFA youth in Park County’s history.

“He is by far the winningest kid Park County has ever seen,” Bridges said. “... This year alone, he walked away with eight buckles.”

Mehling brought three lambs to the fair and won all three divisions: Lightweight Market, Middleweight Market and Heavyweight Market.

In addition, he had the Grand Champion and Reserve Overall Market Lambs, and the Champion and Reserve Champion Blackface Market Lambs. He also won the Park County Bred and Fed Show with the Champion and Reserve Champion Market Lambs.

He was also named the champion showman for both 4-H and FFA for both lambs and pigs.

“Again, he walks away undefeated in the showmanship world,” Bridges said of Mehling.

The crowd at Saturday’s sale gave Mehling a standing ovation.

The sale lasted more than five hours as online bidders were given a little extra time to ensure they had the opportunity to bid, but buyers hung in until the end, Bridges said.

“We had online buyers that bought at the beginning of the sale and were still buying at the end of the sale,” he said. “People in the stands stayed with us all the way through.”

Bridges said it was awesome to see the community of Park County support local youth.

“They made sure those kids were taken care of,” he said, “and it was fantastic.”

    

Hogs

Average: $7.43/pound (up from $6.48 last year)

High seller: Taryn Shorb with $14/pound

Buyer: Bank of Powell

  

Lambs

Average: $10.06/pound (up from $9.02 last year)

High seller: Hayden Hinojosa with $16/pound

Buyer: Pale Horse Construction

  

Goats

Average: $14.16/pound (up from $11.18 last year)

High seller: Rieta Clark with $120/pound

Buyer: Dean and Stephanie Pettyjohn

  

Steers

Average: $3.84/pound (down from $4.70 last year)

High seller: Stockton Buck with $7/pound

Buyer: Pete Scribbs

  

Rabbits

Average: $513 (up from $475 last year)

High seller: Kaylee DeGlau at $1,200

Buyer: Imagination Station Preschool

Comments