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2010 fair livestock sale topped last year by $23,000
(by Kristy Zurbrick, Madison Editor - August 11, 2010)
While the state of the economy remains bleak, the sun shone brightly on this year’s Madison County Junior Fair livestock sale.
The final tabulations are in, and they are a very pleasant surprise. Bidders spent a total of $157,300 in premiums on 447 animal projects presented by 4-H and FFA youngsters. By comparison, the total for 2009 was $134,740 for 413 projects. Premiums are the amount bidders pay on top of the going market price.
“Since we went to a full premium sale in 2001, this year was the highest premium total we’ve ever had,” said Kevin Roseberry, a volunteer who handles the accounting for the Junior Fair livestock sale.
“We were up by 34 sale items over last year, which explains part of the increase, but it doesn’t explain all of the increase,” Roseberry said. “It’s a very good thing to be wondering about.”
He said the money spent and the number of projects are similar to those from 2008, another banner year for the sale.
The boosts were up this year, too. Boosts are lump sums bidders donate to raise the average sale amount for each animal in a certain species category. This year’s boost total was $9,618. Last year, it was $5,575.
Every year, several of the young exhib-itors give back part of their sale take to charitable causes. This year, that total was $5,711; last year it was $3,145. Most of the donations went to the Green Building Fund. Other beneficiaries were the 4-H Endowment Fund, Katie Fisher Scholar-ship Fund, Humane Society of Madison County, and the American Cancer Society, to name a few.
The 2010 sale breakdown by species is as follows.
Hogs: A total of $85,025 in premiums was paid to 193 exhibitors. The average was $440 per animal ($450 after boosts).
Feeder calves: A total of $13,475 was paid to 34 exhibitors. The average was $396 per animal ($430 after boosts).
Steers: A total of $8,850 was paid to 18 exhibitors. The average was $491 per animal ($543 after boosts).
Goats: A total of $8,375 was paid to 41 exhibitors. The average was $204 per animal ($239 after boosts).
Rabbits: A total of $350 was paid to three exhibitors. The average was $116 per animal ($195 after boosts).
Poultry: A total of $8,525 was paid to 56 exhibitors. The average was $152 per animal ($175 after boosts).
Sheep: A total of $27,200 was paid to 91 exhibitors. The average was $298 per animal ($327 after boosts).
Dairy: A total of $5,500 was paid to 11 exhibitors. The average was $500 ($504 after boosts).
According to Roseberry, there were 213 buyers and contributors this year, compared to 196 last year.
The 2010 fair took place July 10-17. To learn more about the fair and the fairgrounds, go to www.madisoncountyfairoh.com.
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