Hookstown supporters dig deep for $100,000

HOOKSTOWN, Pa. – Only 126 animals went through the sale ring at this year’s Hookstown Fair, but the sale total reflects a much larger community support.
Buyers at the annual Beaver County 4-H Stockman’s Club sale dug into their pockets to the tune of $100,522.95 Friday night. The total was down nearly $5,000 from last year’s total of $105,443.55, but averages remained some of the area’s strongest.
Out with a bang. Several 4-H’ers culminated their 4-H careers with big wins.
Cheryl Domitrovich of Aliquippa, who served as president of the stockman’s club this year, wrapped up her 4-H career with a bang, showing both the grand and reserve champion market lambs.
Domitrovich has shown either the grand or reserve champion lambs every year since 2002. She was also this year’s sheep showmanship winner.
Herron’s Cash & Carry Feed of Chester, W.Va., paid $11.50 a pound for the 130-pound grand champion lamb, and Unis Dental Associates paid $8 a pound for the 134-pound reserve champion.
The 33 lambs averaged $2.90 a pound with champions; $2.16 a pound, without champions. During the sale, 10 lambs were donated back to resell benefiting the scholarship fund.
Steer star. Mark Jackson, another 10-year member of the stockman’s club, raised the reserve champion market steer to end his 4-H career. He also won the steer showmanship award.
The 3H Fencing Co. paid $2.10 a pound for Jackson’s 1,315-pound steer.
Hoss’s Family Steak and Sea House paid $2.35 a pound for Maggie Coyne’s 1,280-pound grand champion steer.
The 35 steers averaged $1.60 a pound with champions; $1.57 a pound, without.
Helping bump up that sale average was the bid of $4 a pound for Caitlyn Domitrovich’s 1,325-pound steer, placed by John Domitrovich of Sanitary Cash Market, Aliquippa. Also bringing more than the champions was a 1,358-pound steer sold by Emily Coyne. Jay Snyder of Moon Township paid $2.50 a pound for the steer.
Hogs. Courtney McLaughlin raised this year’s grand champion market hog. The William H. Thompson Agency paid $4.60 a pound for her 280-pound champion.
The reserve champion hog, raised by Jennifer Goehring, sold for $2.45 a pound to Buck Stove & Fireplace.
Rebecca Brown was the swine showmanship winner.
The 58 market hogs averaged $1.41 a pound, including champions; $1.33 a pound, without champions. Four hogs were donated back to resell to benefit the club’s scholarship fund.
During the sale, Shane MacLaughlin of Hookstown sold a 253-pound hog as part of a senior project. All the sale proceeds, $253, benefited the 4-H scholarship fund.
Donating his services for the sale was auctioneer Harry Anderson of Georgetown. Working the ring were Duke Whiting and Larry Young.
(Farm and Dairy Editor Susan Crowell can be reached at 800-837-3419 or at editor@farmanddairy.com.)