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4-H meat animal sale held during Chautauqua County Fair

Submitted Photo Sinclairville Superette purchased Kayla Schauman's grand champion market steer.

Cornell Cooperative Extension of Chautauqua County’s 4-H Youth Development Program held the 54th annual 4-H Meat Animal Sale on Friday, July 20 during the Chautauqua County Fair.

Local businesses and 4-H supporters were out in full force. A total of 161 animals were sold at this annual event with 13 animals donated back from buyers. The profits of the re-selling of the animals go to a charity of the buyer’s choice. Youth can also choose to donate a portion of their sales to a charity of their choice. This year over $6,000 in donations were raised and went to the 4-H Endowment, Fight for Seeley Foundation, Donny’s Cast Against Cancer, and the newly created 4-H Hog Scholarship held at the Chautauqua Region Community Foundation.

4-H Educator Kate Ewer stated, “This year our 4-H’ers really worked to get buyers in the stands. Last year, for whatever reason, sales were down. I think that motivated some families to go out and talk to old buyers and invite a few new ones to the sale. We are so appreciative of the support our community gives to 4-H youth. I’m proud of our youth for working hard to ensure their success at the 4-H Meat Animal Sale.”

Lilly Underberg raised the grand champion market hog. The hog was purchased by Hamburg Gaming who set the record for the highest-selling animal of the sale at $13 per pound. Bryanna Warner raised the reserve grand champion market hog that was purchased for $5 from Jamestown Macadam, Inc. The average price for 71 hogs was $3.72/ lb.

The grand champion meat goat was raised by Steven Overend. Steven’s Boer goat weighed in at 91 lbs. and was purchased by HLW Acres for $500. Allen Root’s reserve grand champion meat goat was purchased by Steven’s Brothers for $450. This year instead of selling meat goats by the pound, the 4-H Meat Animal Sale Committee decided to sell by the head. This decision was well received by the community and on average ten meat goats sold for $400 per animal.

The Market Chicken program saw better participation than in years past. 15 pairs of market birds were auctioned for on average $315 per pair. Kamryn Harper received the grand champion market poultry honors and sold her pair of Cornish Rock Cross birds for $450 to HLW Acres Poultry Processing and was the top-selling pair of birds. Kelsie Jackson raised the reserve grand champion pair of market birds. Lakeshore Paving bought the reserve champion birds for $300.

Kelsie Jackson was again in the winner’s circle in the lamb project. Her grand champion market lamb was sold to Steven’s Brother’s for $4.25/lb. Bryanna Warner received the reserve grand champion honors. Her lamb was purchased by Shamel Milling-Jason Engel for $3.25/lb. Baker Huntington’s lamb was the top-seller for the species, Lynn Development purchased the 121 pound crossbred lamb for $6.75/lb. The average price for 34 lambs sold was $4.46/lb.

The beef project had 21 excellent steers to offer the community at this year’s sale. Sinclairville Superette bought Kayla Schauman’s grand champion steer for $2.65/lb. Michael Kibbe’s reserve grand champion steer was purchased by Tri James Services for $3/lb. Holly Crandall boasted the top-selling steer of the sale by earning $3.90/lb. for her steer purchased by Jamestown Macadam, Inc. The average price for a steer at the 2018 4-H Meat Animal Sale was $2.97, up tremendously from last year.

Local auctioneers volunteer their time and without them, the 4-H Meat Animal Sale wouldn’t be possible. This year Andy Campbell, Dale Eckman, Lon Kent, Mike Peterson, Dakota Peterson, Ron Reed, and Heath Reed volunteered their auctioneer talent for the sale. Dick Shaver, Corey Schauman, and Branden Decker helped in the ring for the duration of the sale. Abbie Gzregorzewski, Little Creek Photography, donated her time and photographed every youth with their buyer.

The 4-H Meat Animal Sale Committee would like to wholeheartedly thank the community for their support of 4-H. Raising market animals teaches youth responsibility, financial and time management skills, recordkeeping, and knowledge of the food system industry.

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