New record set at Jefferson County Fair sale

SMITHFIELD, Ohio – There were many things to celebrate Saturday afternoon as the Jefferson County Junior Fair livestock sale got under way.
Auctioneer Gary Cain was honored for his 50 years of service; the fair marked its 25th anniversary at Friendship Park in Smithfield; and the Ohio State Fair Queen Meredith Logsdon, from Upper Sandusky, was there to start the sale with a smile.
Logsdon welcomed everyone, thanking and encouraging the buyers and telling the whole audience to be proud of the junior fair programs all across the state.
The on-again, off-again rain Aug. 19, didn’t seem to bother any fairgoers, especially the buyers at this year’s sale.
A new record. The crowd cheered as Keirsten Harris’ 1,299-pound steer broke the record of $8.25 per pound. It was a bidding battle between David Hinman II and Jim Saltsman and their opponent Steve Vukelic with RSV Demolition.
The crowd clapped loudly with anticipation when the Cain got to $8 per pound. The two bidders went back and forth and the steer was finally sold at $8.50 per pound to David Hinman II and Jim Saltsman.
“As long as we broke the record, I’m happy,” Vukelic told the audience.
This is Harris’ first year to win with a steer and she is proud to say the calf was born on her farm. To add to her plate, she was also the Outstanding Beef Exhibitor and Swine Exhibitor. This honor is a combination of skill-a-thon points, showmanship and market class placings.
Harley Ehrman is keeping up the family tradition having this year’s reserve champion steer and grand champion hog.
After the exciting record-breaking sale of the grand champion, Steve Vukelic was at it again, but this time Ehrman’s 1,395-pound reserve champion steer was in the ring.
Vukelic again fell short of the highest bid, as Team Ford Lincoln Mercury Albert Automotive Group won the bidding at $4.50 per pound.
The steer sale brought in a total of $84,158.60. The 40 steers averaged $1.70 a pound with champions and $1.44 without.
Feeders. Amanda Grafton did it again, winning grand champion dairy steer feeder two years in a row. This year, her 587-pound feeder sold for $1.50 per pound to Carrollton Farmers Exchange.
Trevor Waller was the Outstanding Dairy Exhibitor and raised the reserve champion feeder. His calf sold for 30 cents more than the grand champion, bringing $1.80 per pound to Steve Vukelic of RSV Demolition.
Fifteen feeder calves brought in $9,501.50, averaging $1.38 per pound with champions and $1.33 without.
Lambs. The 32 lambs totaled $15,285.50, averaging $4.10 per pound with champions and $3.98 without. This year’s averages were up almost $2 from last year’s sales averaging $1.98 per pound with champions and $1.80 without.
Another repeat winner, Kyleigh DeFrank sold her 136-pound grand champion lamb for $7 per pound, $1.75 more per pound than last year’s champion to faithful buyer Carrollton Farmers Exchange.
Frank Rogers’ sold his 129-pound reserve champion lamb to Professional Tire and Alignment.
Hogs. After winning grand champion hog in 2004 and breaking the record, Harley Ehrman sold his 269-pound hog for $5.25 per pound to high bidder, Riesbeck’s Food Market in Wintersville, Ohio.
Jorden Kerr sold his 265-pound reserve champion hog to Off The Wall Signs, Matt and Ron Mazzaferro, for $2.75 per pound.
Hog sales receipts totaled $60,469.65 for the 126 animals, averaging $1.93 per pound with champions and $1.90 without.
Goats. The grand champion market goat raised by Josh Bergles sold to Tim Franken running for Jefferson County judge for $325, $50 more than last year’s grand champion.
Tyler Ruckman stayed competitive after winning the grand champion market goat last year and bringing home the reserve champion trophy this year.
Jefferson’s Landmark Feed and Farm Supplies bought Ruckman’s goat for $250.
The nine goats sold for a total of $1,700, averaging $188.89 with champions and $160.71 without.
Rabbits. Six pens of three rabbit fryers sold for $1,175, averaging 195.83 with champions and $168.75 without.
The Means family was the star of the rabbit show, winning both grand and reserve champions. Hannah Means’ grand champion rabbit pen sold for $300 of Sky Bank. Breanne Means sold her reserve champion rabbit pen to Wal-Mart for $200.
Rabbit sales dropped significantly, with last year’s grand champion pen selling for $550 and the reserve pen going for $525.
Poultry. Jimmy Kinemond paid $340 for Terra Banal’s grand champion meat turkey.
Teddi Banal sold her reserve champion meat turkey to AEP Cardinal Plant Power Station for $350.
The five pens of turkeys sold for $1,225, averaging $245 a pen with champions and $178.33 without.
Katie Hartzell sold her pen of two meat ducks to Steubenville Wal-Mart for $225, while Katie Moore’s reserve champion meat ducks went to longtime supporter and persistent bidder Corky Saiter.
The nine pens of ducks totaled $1,230, averaging $136.67 with champions and $125.71 without.
Kyla Vargo continues to make her rounds winning grand champion birds. Last year Kyla walked away with the grand champion turkey and this year she continued her streak raising the grand champion meat chickens.
Vargo’s pen of three meat chickens were purchased for $275 by Tom Graham, candidate for Jefferson County commissioner.
Kylee DeHamer sold her reserve champion chicken pen to Ester McCoy for $250.
McCoy was the grand marshal of this year’s opening parade and has been covering the Jefferson County Fair for 30 years.
The nine pens of meat chickens totaled $1,950, averaging $216.67 with champions and $203.57 without.
Donated print. Dave Barnhouse continued to show his support of the county’s youth by donating a signed and numbered print for auction. Charles L. Stingle Jr. purchased the print for $600. Stingle’s father is featured in the painting.
Auctioneers and ringmen helping with the sale included; Gary Cain, Brad Cain, Steve Birney, Joe Miller, Jayme Gandee, Mark Harding, Henry Grafton, and Wayne Falb.