Little interest in livestock auction

By SARAH LYNCH
The Independent

GRAYSON August 10, 2007 12:10 am

— Here we go folks. Sale’s on!
This is the grand champion steer weighing in at 1,155 pounds.
Let’s start with $2. Can I get $2? How about $1.50. Gimme $1.50.
Hello? Is there anybody out there? Are you kidding me? $1 for the grand champion steer?
Most of the 4-H and FFA livestock auction went on like this with auctioneer Campbell Bush baffled by the lack of bids from audience members at the Carter County Fair on Thursday.
“Come on folks,” he prodded. “This steer belongs to Jon Carter. He’s a three-time grand champion this year. He worked this summer. Let’s pay him off.”
This was Carter’s eighth year of participation in the county fair auction. Before it started, the 21-year-old Morehead State University agriculture science major expected the steer would go for at least $2 per pound.
Last year, he said he sold his grand champion hog for $2,400 to State Rep. Robin Webb, D-Grayson. Surely Snowball, — given the name only because this is his first white steer out of six previous sales — would go for more than that.
So he thought.
Can’t I get $1.25? We’ve got 1.25. Can I get a $1.50? $1.50? Anyone?
“Someone is going to get home tonight and think, ‘I can’t believe I let that grand champion steer go for $1.25,’” Bush told the audience.
But Snowball, who Carter bought and put a year of work and about a grand of his own money into, did go for $1.25.
Sold! To Cater County Judge-Executive Charles Wallace, who said he planned to slaughter the steer to serve up at the upcoming Democratic Reunion on Aug. 24.
“I made several phone calls today to try to get some people out here to support these kids,” Wallace said. “I don’t know if the heat has kept people away or what.”
As Carter led his steer away, head hanging, there was silence in the crowd. Not one single hand clap for the $1,444 sale.
Next up was Carter’s prized pig — this year’s grand champion hog weighing in at 257 pounds. After a few minutes of shuffling around the arena and a lot of Bush’s encouragement, Kaye Wallace, the judge-executive’s wife, purchased the hog for $540. The hog will also be on the entrée list at the reunion.
The highest bid for his grand champion lamb went to Diamond Gates and Trailers, a Grayson business that Carter said had purchased several of his livestock animals in the past. The lamb went for $560.
“I’ve never hear of a grand champion steer sold for that little,” he said after shaking the hands of his buyers. “Last year, I sold my pig for more than all three today.”
The grand total for the grand champion: $2,543.
It’s more than he got last year for the pig alone. But just barely.

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