For the week of August 14 - 20, 2002

4-H youths star at county fair

Boosters shell out thousands 
for prize animals

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By GREGORY FOLEY
Express Staff Writer

Youths in Blaine County’s 4-H programs earned thousands of dollars Saturday selling their prize-winning livestock to generous local boosters at the close of the 2002 Blaine County Fair in Carey.

4-H participant Sarah Lynn Shaffer of Carey, 16, shows her 123-pound Grand Champion lamb, Simon, Saturday at the 2002 Blaine County Fair 4-H Market Animal Sale. Shaffer has been involved in 4-H programs for eight years. Express photo by Willy Cook

As in past years at the annual 4-H Market Animal Sale, an unassuming group of local businessman and 4-H supporters bought numerous animals for inflated values to support the efforts of scores of youngsters who raised top-quality sheep, swine and cattle.

Ketchum businessman Jim Cimino led much of the bidding, purchasing four pigs early in the auction for nearly 10 times market value.

Cimino’s willingness to keep the bidding going as young 4-Hers showed their animals around a covered circular pen prompted auctioneer Joe Bennett to pause in a moment of recognition. "I’ll tell you what, he’s always been a great supporter of this fair," Bennett said of Cimino.

Other generous buyers at the event included businessman Don Atkinson of Hailey and Idaho Secretary of State Pete Cenarrusa of Carey, who purchased a red-ribbon lamb from 4-Her Eric Boyle for $6 a pound.

State Sen. Clint Stennet, D-Ketchum, who served as a ring steward for the event, said this week that the support of boosters such as Cimino provide thousands of dollars for 4-H participants to continue their work in learning about agriculture. "They put in a tremendous amount of money," he said. "The amount of support they give is very admirable."

Matthew Hurless directs his blue-ribbon pig around the pen Saturday at the annual 4-H auction as a crowd of boosters places their bids. The prize-winning, 222-pound swine sold for $3.55 per pound, nearly 10 times the market value of $.36 per pound. Express photo by Willy Cook

Individuals who sell their livestock at the auction keep the proceeds of each sale, which typically range from $500 to $900 for a prize lamb, to up to $4,000 for a champion steer.

Many buyers at the auction chose to "resell"—rather than butcher and keep—the animals they purchased, in effect donating hundreds or thousands of dollars for each purchase to the 4-H seller.

Each category of animal for sale is given a prescribed market price, and all animals that are not kept by the buyers are sold at that price to a second buyer—such as a meat packer—designated before the auction.

Boosters who resell their livestock pay the 4-H seller the difference between the market price charged and the price he or she bid on the animal.

Buyers who keep their purchase pay the entire bid amount to the 4-H seller.

In some cases, buyers donated the purchased livestock back to younger sellers to keep special animals from being slaughtered.

Leading sellers at this year’s auction included:

· A 1252-pound Grand Champion beef cattle sold by Amanda Johnson for $3.40 per pound.

· A 123-pound Grand Champion lamb sold by Sarah Lynn Shaffer for $9 per pound.

· A 283-pound Grand Champion pig sold by Terra Hansen for $4.10 per pound.

The market price for beef was set at $.60 per pound, while swine and sheep were set at $.36 and $.70, respectively.

Given special recognition Saturday was Angie Cameron, who won the Will Neal Memorial Award and a scholarship that will help her attend the College of Southern Idaho. Cameron showed horses, beef cattle and sheep during the fair, earning the billing of "Top Showman" overall for the event.

 

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