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July 10, 2008

4-H’ers sell livestock to highest bidder

By DANIELLE RUSH

GREENTOWN — The most expensive dozen eggs in Howard County sold for $100 in Thursday’s 2008 4-H Fair livestock auction.

Ron and Jody Newhouse purchased the eggs, sold by Heidi Cranor, who won champion eggs in the poultry show earlier in the week.

Cranor and her mother, Kathy, packaged the eggs in a basket, along with an angel food cake they made from champion egg whites, for the auction.

Heidi Cranor said she was surprised by the high price.

“I thought they’d go for $20,” she said. She already has plans for her egg money.

“I think I’m going to buy an American Girl doll,” she said.

Cranor was among the nearly 150 4-H’ers who sold livestock or livestock products in the 2008 auction.

For many, it was a happy evening, as they reaped the rewards of their year of hard work raising the animals. Sophie Ziliotto had a huge smile on her face as she held one of her grand champion commercial chickens, while the other chicken waited in a pen. She earned $200 for the pair, sold to Kokomo’s Rural King. Tamara Visser, poultry superintendent, said at market, Ziliotto would have earned $20 at most for the broiler pair.

For others, it was a bittersweet evening, as they sold an animal they had bonded with as they raised it. Bailey Miller stood stoic-faced in the arena with her goat, the grand champion meat wether, which she had adorned with a purple-and-yellow lei. She remained brave until the auctioneer called, “Sold,” and announced it was going to market. Miller broke down in tears, and received a comforting hug from a friend as she left the ring to load her goat onto the truck to market. She sold the goat for $480, or about $5 per pound, to representatives of Haynes International. Market price for goats is about 70 to 80 cents per pound.

Grand champion barrow showman Jordan Hodupp, who sold his 264-pound animal for $13 per pound, or $3,432, could sympathize.

“My first year, I got attached,” he said. “After that, it’s part of showing livestock.”

He was pleased with what he earned for his animal.

“I didn’t complain too much. I’ve seen grand champions go for low and for high. It depends on how the buyers are feeling that day.”

Hodupp said the proceeds from selling his grand champion will go toward buying his 2009 animals.

His animal sold to a large group of buyers.

Garrett Hite, who sold his reserve grand champion sheep wether, agreed it can be hard to sell an animal. He’s sold pigs before, and this was his first year selling a sheep.

“It’s usually kind of hard, because you bond with them,” he said, but added, “you get used to it.”

His sheep sold for $8.25 per pound, or $998.25, to the 2008 Friends of the Howard County 4-H Fair.

For representatives of Howard Haven and the Kokomo Rescue Mission, it was a happy evening, as some buyers donated their animals to those organizations. The county home and mission will have the animals processed and serve the meat to their clients during the upcoming year.

Other items or animals sold included:

• Trent Myers, supreme showman, a 1,168-pound steer for $1.55 per pound, or $1810.40 to Eriks Chevrolet;

• Maria Cranor, reserve grand champion meat goat wether, $400 to a group of fair vendors;

• Jeremy Clair, grand champion pygmy goat wether, $300 to Kokomo Grain;

• Chelsea Weber, reserve grand champion pygmy goat wether, $290 to Russiaville Merchants;

• Baxter Howell, reserve grand champion gilt, 252 pounds at $8 per pound, or $2,016, to Dan Young GM Center, Indy Tire and White’s Meat Market.

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