Belmont County junior fair sales up more than $18K

ST. CLAIRSVILLE, Ohio – In what may have been the last Belmont County Junior Fair Livestock Sale at the current location, the Sept. 8 sale was an emotional night for some of the 4-H’ers.
The existing Belmont County Fairgrounds has been sold to the City of St. Clairsville, and the Belmont County Ag Society has purchased property for the new site.
However, depending on the progress of construction at the new fairgrounds, the ag society has the option of using the current site for two more years. But, according to members of the Belmont County fair board, they hope to begin tearing down the old and building the new as early as this week.
Total sales receipts for the 156th fair was $157,490, up more than $18,000 from last year even though there were fewer animals entered this year.
Last hurrah. Erin White got a little choked up her last time in the sale ring as a 4-H’er. She thanked the people who have supported her in 4-H, including her parents and the buyers of her animals.
She was given a commemorative watch by the junior fair board.
The St. Clairsville Riesbecks paid $5 a pound for her 276-pound grand champion hog.
Cassandra Beckett got $3 a pound for her 270-pound reserve champion hog from Carpet and Furniture Mill in Barnesville. The proceeds were donated to the new fair building fund.
The 141 hogs sold for an average price of $1.70 a pound, including champions.
Steers. White’s twin brother, Eric, kept up tradition by raising the grand champion steer. He also took the auctioneer’s microphone to thank his family and other supporters for all their help during his time in 4-H.
He received $2.25 a pound for his 1,270-pound champ from Emory Rothenbuhler and Sons Trucking out of Beallsville.
The Ohio Valley Cattlemen’s Association presented jackets to all beef class winners, which included Jarrett Burga whose 1,347-pound reserve champion steer brought $1.90 a pound from Wallace Construction and Bel-Morr Market.
The 24 steers sold for an average price of $1.33 a pound, including champions.
Lambs. Randall Gallagher Memorials paid $6.50 a pound for Damon Winland’s 137-pound grand champion lamb.
Emily Rockwell, who had the reserve champion and third place animals, got $6 a pound for her 129-pound reserve lamb from Riesbecks in St. Clairsville.
The 28 lambs sold for an average price of $3.38 a pound, including champions.
Goats. The 92-pound grand champion market goat of Amber Benson brought $6.50 a pound from Belmont Mills. Buckeye Steel paid $3.50 a pound for Kayla Detling’s 102-pound reserve champion market goat.
The 25 goats sold for an average price of $3.81 a pound, including champions.
Triple winner. Cory Milhoan, who was a triple grand champion winner, sold his grand champion 14.59-pound pen of three fryers for $175 to Stottler Tree Service.
Double reserve grand champion Brittany Milhoan sold her reserve pen of fryers to T.J. Jefferis General Contractor for $75.
The 11 rabbit pens sold for an average price of $107.27, including champions.
Cory Milhoan sold his winning market pen of three broilers to KFC and A&W Rootbeer for $225. KFC and A&W Rootbeer also bought Andy Barricklow’s reserve pen of broilers for $140.
The eight pens of broilers sold for an average price of $183.13, including champions.
Cory Milhoan sold his grand champion 37.72-pound market turkey to Bob’s of Barnesville dealership for $275.
Brittany Milhoan’s 36.05-pound reserve turkey sold for $130 to Kirk’s Homemade Ice Cream.
The four turkeys averaged $157.50, with champions.