For some it’s easy. For some it’s hard. For others it’s a tearjerking experience, but a necessary one for many 4-H’ers.
The annual livestock sale was held Wednesday evening at the Lyon County Fairgrounds. 4-H’ers led their animals in the sale ring hoping for the best price. Some animals donned glitter. Others were decorated with tinsel and leis.
Cindy Meinholdt, 16, was selling a steer in the sale for the first time. She has been in 4-H since she was 7 years old. She decided to put her steer in the sale for the profits. Some of the money will go into savings and some of the money will go toward next year’s steer.
Meinholdt has raised her steer since the animal was 2 months old. Giving him up hasn’t proved to be easy.
“It’s just the way it is,” she said. “That’s the prospect. You just gotta deal with it.”
Throughout 4-H, Meinholdt has learned many things including responsibility and leadership. Wednesday night she took responsibility for selling her steer. Meinholdt also participates in horsemanship, she said, and earned second place in that category. This year she also received a red ribbon in market for steer and a blue in showmanship.
For Dillon Horton, 13, selling his steer in the sale and using the other for family meat wasn’t a hard thing to do. He pointed out different cuts of meat on his steer including steak, loin and other meat parts.
In showing the steer for the sale, Horton said it’s important to keep the steer’s head up in the show ring.
Natalie Leffler, 11, also had a steer in the sale. She raised two steers for 4-H. One was in the sale, and the other will be used for meat for the family. Leffler said she has learned what’s good meat and what isn’t for the sale. Judges also look for the overall smoothing of the animal.
Leffler said it wasn’t easy to put her steer in the sale. She offered advice to others who were sad about the prospect:
“Keep your head up,” she said.
The Lyon County Fair Board provided the selling prices for the animals judged champions at this year’s fair:
Swine
- Grant Champion: Cameron Steffers, Happy Harvesters, $400 Mel’s Tire
- Reserve Grand Champion: Nathan Stinson, Frost, $350, G&L Group
Sheep
- Grand Champion: Not sold
- Reserve Grand Champion: Taylor Lee, Rinker, $550 Rock River
Rabbit (Meat Pen)
- Grand Champion: Krisanne Karr, Sunflower, $225, Dr. Steve Haught
- Reserve Grand Chamption: Mark Hanks, Reading, $125, Hanks Trucking
Poultry (Meat Pen)
- Grand Champion: Kimberly Smith, Cloverleaf, $200, Larry and Sandy Browning
- Reserve Grand Champion: Eric MacGregor, Cloverleaf, $250, Harrouff Equipment
Meat Goat
- Grand Champion: Jenna Ferguson, Riverside, $550, Larry and Sandy Browning
- Reserve Grand Champion: Chloe Creager, Happy Harvesters, $400, Ranch Aid
Beef
- Grand Champion: Nathan Stinson, Frost, $1,000 Rock River
- Reserve Grand Champion: Mindy Woods, Happy Harvesters, $1,000 Rock River