ASHTABULA, Ohio – The Ashtabula County 4-H program started a new program this year to allow 4-H livestock clubs raising market animals to do an international project.
At the Ashtabula County Fair junior livestock sale Aug. 10 that program came to fruition as four hogs and a steer were auctioned off as charity projects, with the proceeds going toward an international program that purchases live animals for young people in developing countries.
Auction commentator Becky DeHuff said this project is a way for 4-H members to expand their own world, and to help change lives in other countries.
“The possession of a single animal is often a way out of poverty in the developing world,” DeHuff said.
Ashtabula County clubs who raised market animals for the project included the Fine Swine Club, Little Rebels Club, South Central Club, Prime Bovine Club, and the Beef-A-Teers Club.
The idea was popular with the bidders, who greeted the five animals appearance with some enthusiasm. A total of just over $2,000 was generated from the sale of the animals, from which the clubs will receive reimbursement of a fair market price. The remainder will be donated into the international program.
Total sale higher. The Ashtabula sale totaled $149,337, well above last year’s total of $115,868. A total of 209 animals were sold to 127 buyers, and $1,253 was donated to the scholarship foundation by the resale of four animals.
Auctioneers were Tim Hunt, Jeff Otto, Scott Mihalic, Kyle Krieg, Jack Evans, Allen Burhenne, Charlie Brewster, and Bob Fink.
Cheese sale. In the cheese basket sale, Sam Hejduk, who had the reserve best of show basket last year, brought in the best of show basket this year with a daily average of 10.5 pounds of cheese.
The basket contains an equivalent in cheese of the amount that would have been produced by the average one-day production of the dairy cow entered in the cheese competition.
Hejduk sold his basket for $325 to David Hogle of Hogle Farms at Conneaut.
The reserve best of show basket, weighing 9.7 pounds, was shown by Landon Hamilton and sold for $600, the high of the cheese sale, to Colebrook Elevator of Orwell.
There were 10 baskets sold, with one resale, for a total of $5,175, averaging $470.45 with champions, and $472.22 without champions.
Small animal sale. In meat rabbits there were only two exhibitors, with each pen of three being turned back to be resold a second time. Total sales was $1,146.24.
Gabrielle Cantalamess showed the 15.39-pound best of show pen, which sold for $32.50 a pound to Austinburg Mill. The 15.38-pound reserve best of show pen was shown by Justin Piper and sold for $27 a pound to Saybrook Feed and Garden.
Five pens of two market chickens, with one resale, were sold for $1,299.63, averaging $216.61 with champions and $149.07 without.
Jenn Hammon sold her 12.25-pound grand champion and reserve best of show pen for $30 a pound to Ken’s Quality Meats. The 13-pound reserve champion pen, shown by Nichole Wright, was purchased for $22.50 a pound, and the 11.5 pound best of show pen, shown by James Anderson, for $21 a pound, both by Chapman’s Food Service.
Market goats. The five market goats were sold for $583.90, averaging $116.78 with champions and $94.20 without.
Benjamin Ruple sold his 86-pound grand champion and reserve best of show market goat for $2.50 a pound to John and Bonnie Miller of Thompson, Ohio. The 72-pound reserve champion market goat, shown by Becky Betteridge, was purchased by a trio of auction auctioneers, Tim Hunt, Charlie Brewster, and Bill Passek, for $1.30 a pound.
Lamb categories. A total of nine market lambs were sold for $2,882.25, averaging $129.67 with champions and $139.17 without.
Hannah Miller, who also had last year’s grand champion, sold her 116-pound grand champion and best of show market lamb for $9 a pound, up almost $6 over last year’s price, to Thorne’s Bilo Supermarket.
The 103-pound reserve champion market lamb, shown by Catherine Benton, was purchased by Nassief Ford for $2.75 a pound. The 113- pound reserve best of show lamb, shown by Liz Gavin, was purchased for $2.50 a pound by Al Sedivec of Rome, Ohio.
There were also five lamb carcasses shown, which sold for $962.35, averaging $192.47 with champions and $153.58 without.
Tiffany Hess sold her 82-pound best of show carcass for $3.30 a pound to Midway Pontiac, Chevrolet, and Buick of Orwell, Ohio. The 77-pound reserve best of show carcass, shown by Philip Renner, was purchased by Kenneth Ayers of Ayershire Farm in Orwell for $3 a pound.
Swine categories. Market hogs was the largest category for the junior market sale. A total of 76 were sold, with one resale, for $34,874.85, averaging $248 with champions and $414.31 without.
Erica Reiter sold her 227-pound grand champion market hog for $4 a pound to Thorne’s Bilo Supermarket. The 266-pound reserve champion market hog, shown by Danielle Lautanen, was purchased by Western Reserve Farm Co-op for $2.20 a pound.
The best of show hog was shown by Betty Beckwith. Her 252-pound market hog sold for $7.25 a pound to Thorne’s Bilo Supermarket, and the 222-pound reserve best of show market hog, shown by Adam Paul, sold for $5.90 a pound to Smokin Ts.
There were also five hog carcasses sold. The best of show carcass, shown by Danielle Lautanen, was 164 pounds and had a 7.6 inch loin eye. It was purchased for $3.50 a pound by Ted Norris of Ashville. The reserve best of show carcass, shown by Ben Beckwith, was 212 pounds, and had an 8.75-inch loin eye. It was purchased for $2.10 a pound by Hanes Marine of Andover.
Dairy feeders. A total of 28 dairy feeders were sold.
Lindsey Hurst sold her 582-pound grand champion feeder for $1.45 a pound to Colebrook Elevator. The 552-pound reserve champion feeder, shown by Jessica Miller, was purchased by Western Reserve Farm Co-op for $1.50 a pound.
The best of show feeder was shown by Amanda Brown. Her 604-pound dairy calf sold for 95 cents a pound to Pat Holden Livestock, and the 620-pound reserve best of show feeder, shown by Autumn Comp, sold for 95 cents a pound to Marous Farms.
Beef categories. A total of 48 market steers were sold for $70,910.75, averaging $1,477.31 with champions and $1,423.83 without.
Marie Maylish sold her 1,280-pound grand champion and reserve best of show market steer for $2 a pound to Andover Bank. The 1,214-pound reserve champion steer, shown by Rachel Furman, was purchased by Jefferson Golden Dawn for $1.60 a pound.
The best of show market steer was shown by Jason March. His 1,305-pound steer sold for $1.65 a pound to Capp Steel Erectors.
There were also five beef carcasses sold for $3,339.30, averaging $667.87 with champions and $596.77 without.
The best of show carcass, shown by Marie Maylish, was 383 pounds and had a 14.3 inch rib eye. It was purchased for $2.15 a pound by Darrin Demshar of Jefferson. The reserve best of show carcass, shown by Dustin Brown, was 455 pounds, and had an 14.8-inch rib eye. It was purchased for $1.30 a pound by Bob Lautanen Trucking.
