WLCF Junior Livestock Sale records high yields - Honors Johnstone with Lifetime Service Award

The annual Wheat Land Communities’ Fair Junior Livestock Sale ran smoothly, as coordinators and exhibitors worked together for another successful event. The auction grossed $85,922.45, according to Livestock Sale Treasurer Lori Williams.

The Saturday afternoon auction on Sept. 2 featured nearly 40 exhibitors with a total of 75 animals being sold at the auction. Even with a reduction in the amount of animals auctioned, the sale netted more than $10,000 more than the previous year.

The sheep department saw another year of increase in numbers, and with many youth exhibitors participating in open classes, Williams said there is future hope for all of the livestock departments to grow.

The average prices per pound at the auction, by species were: beef at $2.49, swine at $3.25, sheep at $4.79 and goats at $6.25.

While support funds are still being received, Williams stated more than $12,000 has already been received.

For the second year in a row, Connell Oil was the top buyer at the Junior Livestock Sale. Prior to the auction, Connell Oil was recognized for their donations in the past, as well as the donation of panels to complete the new beef barn.

Before the auction began, Andy and Lori Williams took the opportunity to honor and recognize Dr. Tim Johnstone for his years of service to the Wheat Land Communities’ Fair.

Johnstone was presented with the Lifetime Service Award from the Junior Livestock Sale Committee for serving as the fair’s veterinarian for countless years. Johnstone ensures the health of each individual animal exhibited at the fair, and checks all of their vaccinations to guarantee all livestock will be in a safe and healthy environment.

WLCF President Fritz Coon also spoke about memorial donations received in the previous years, including the Dorothy Schoesler Memorial Funds. Coon dedicated the new barn on the fairgrounds in her memory.

The new barn serves as the current beef barn, allowing for more animals to be housed on the grounds and allow for expansion in all livestock departments. All of the animals now also have adequate cover and additional improvements are planned for the future.

Senator Mark Schoesler also spoke in acknowledgment with the dedication of the building, stating that while his mother loved traveling to fairs, the Wheat Land Communities’ Fair was always her favorite because it was home.

With the addition of the new barn, this secures the future of the local fair and provides opportunities to all area exhibitors, Schoesler said. He added the family will now have the chance for five generations to participate in the annual fair.

The extreme success of the sale is attributed to the hard work of local volunteers and exhibitors to contact potential buyers before the start of the auction, and the outstanding support from community members and businesses.

Prior to the start of fair every year, Livestock Committee Superintendent Justin Palmer, with assistance from Bob Schoessler and volunteers, contacts individuals about purchasing an animal through the auction.

The auction is divided into departments by species, with hogs being sold first, followed by steers, sheep and goats.

In the swine department, the grand champion FFA hog exhibited by Zackary Crouse sold for $5 a pound to buyers Evergreen Implement. Ella Greenwalt sold the grand champion 4-H market hog for $5 a pound to Connell Oil-Bronco Farm Supply.

Sharon Anderson raised the reserve champion FFA hog and sold the pig for $4 a pound to GEM Air. 4-H reserve champion market hog owner Brenik Esser sold his hog to McCary Meats for $4 per pound.

In the beef department, the grand champion FFA steer exhibited by Tara Tellefson sold for $2.90 per pound to Connell Oil-Bronco Farm Supply. Alyssa Williams sold the 4-H grand champion steer for $2.95 to Legacy Power and Telecommunications.

Zoe Galbreath sold the 4-H reserve champion steer for $2.70 to Connell Oil-Bronco Farm Supply. Tara Tellefson sold her reserve champion FFA steer for $2.85 per pound to Stockland Livestock and Exchange.

In the 4-H sheep division, Brynne Nelson sold her grand champion lamb for $6.25 per pound to Evergreen Implement. Nelson also exhibited the reserve champion lamb, which was purchased by N3 Forage and Livestock for $6.

FFA exhibitor Nathan Naught sold his grand champion lamb for $6.25 a pound to Wheatland Bank. Alibama Rushing’s reserve champion lamb sold for $6 per pound to The McGregor Company.

Thomas Rosen exhibited the FFA grand champion goat, which sold for $5.50 per pound to N3 Forage and Livestock. Alexis Melcher has the reserve champion FFA goat, which sold for $11.50 per pound to Wilbur Ellis-Colfax.

In the 4-H division, Ben Dennis sold his grand champion goat to Legacy Power and Telecommunications for $5.50 a pound. Connell Oil-Bronco Farm Supply purchased the reserve champion 4-H goat, also exhibited by Dennis, for $4.50 per pound.

The success of the 2017 livestock auction has the livestock committee optimistic for the upcoming year and together the group is thankful for the community’s support of local youth.

The livestock committee is in charge of collecting entries for the fair, setting up the livestock show arenas and pens for the fair, and coordinating the livestock auction. The group is also responsible for finding judges for each individual livestock department during the fair.

The majority of work for the committee comes at the conclusion of the auction with recording buyer information, sending invoices and coordinating check payments for the exhibitors.

At the conclusion of the auction, the Livestock Sale committee provided each exhibitor with a certificate of appreciation. The exhibitors were required to approach their buyers, thank them for their support and present them with the mementos of appreciation.

The annual livestock auction is run by Booker Auction, who volunteers to donate their time to coordinate the event.

Support funds will be accepted through Sept. 15 by mailing to WLCF Jr. Livestock Sale Attn: Lori Williams, 1408 N. Longmeier Road Ritzville, WA or by emailing [email protected].