Fair week ends with livestock auction

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By Mitchell Banks

BROWNSTOWN

On the last day of the 2021 Jackson County Fair, 4-H’ers parted ways with their animals during the livestock auction after a week of the first fair shows since 2019.

A total of 154 animals were purchased at a $214,450 by local citizens, businesses and organizations Saturday.

There were 74 swine, 28 goats, 26 sheep, 12 beef and 14 dairy beef sold Saturday.

Luke Lanam, 17, sold his pig for $1,000. It was the highest bid he has received in the four years that he has participated in the auction.

He said he enjoys showing livestock in the auction because of the more relaxed atmosphere compared to a competitive show.

“The auction is a much different experience than the show,” Lanam said. “The show is all serious, all competition, but I find with the auction, you can lay back a little and relax and be thankful for all of the supporters that come out here and support the 4-H’ers.”

While he said he was nervous in his first year showing in the auction, he said with experience, it gets better.

Allison Wynn, 18, showed her pig during the auction after a week of being 4-H royalty at the fair.

She’s a 10-year 4-H member who participated in her 10th and last livestock auction.

The key to showing in the auction, she said, is making the pig look presentable to the buyers and making herself look presentable so buyers want to buy from her.

Her pig brought in $1,400 thanks to her grandmother, who was the winning bidder.

The livestock auction can be emotional because 4-H’ers say goodbye to animals that they’ve worked with for some time, but Wynn said it gets better with time.

“My first couple of years, it was really rough,” she said. “My 10th year, it’s like … it’s life. It’s what a farm is.”

Kaylee Eckelman, 15, said when going into the auction, she makes sure her pig “doesn’t go crazy” and just pays attention to the pig and what it does.

She agreed the livestock auction day can be emotional.

“It’s emotional because you’re not going to see your pigs again,” she said.

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