The 2022 Switzerland County 4-H Fair came to a close on Saturday afternoon with a very successful week being wrapped up by the annual livestock auction.
This year’s sale brought in a total of $242,500 — which shatters the record from 2021, which brought in $204,000.
In total, there was a total of 163 animals sold this year, which was up from last year’s total of 145.
With 163 animals bringing in a total of $242,500, that calculates to a per animal average of $1,487.70. Last year, the 145 animals bringing in $204,000 came to an average of $1,406.90.
First into the show arena on Saturday afternoon were the rabbits, where 13 projects brought a total of $6,200.
Last year, 12 rabbits brought in a total of $8,800.
Alanna Taylor sold her Grand Champion rabbit to Car Country/Tom Tepe-Bernie for $500; and Grace White sold her Reserve Grand Champion, which also was purchased by Car Country/Tom Tepe-Bernie for $500.
Next came the beef projects, where the 21 animals in the auction brought a total of $68,750.
In 2021, there were 20 steers, and they collectively brought a total of $62,150.
Kellen Griffin raised this year’s Grand Champion, and it was sold on Saturday to the Rising Sun Veterinary Clinic and Bear Branch Supply for a total of $5,250. This year’s Reserve Grand Champion was raised by Ferrah Hettinger, and it was sold to Chandler Chevrolet/Chandler Select for $3,000.
Following the beef were the poultry exhibits, where this year 25 animals brought in a total of $13,400. Last year there were 17 poultry exhibits in the auction, and they brought a total of $9,000.
Sorren Russell showed the Grand Champion for the second straight year, and on Saturday it was purchased by Car Country/Tom Tepe-Bernie for $700. Sorren also raised the Reserve Grand Champion poultry exhibit, and it was not sold at Saturday’s auction.
Macy Collier had the Grand Champion swine project at this year’s livestock auction. She sold it on Saturday to Car Country/Tom Tepe-Bernie, which paid $2,500. This year’s Reserve Grand Champion was shown by Courtney Higgins, and it also sold to Car Country/Tom Tepe-Bernie, with a price of $3,500.
Overall, there were 37 swine projects, and they brought in a total of $64,550 at the 2022 auction. In 2021, 32 swine projects brought in $44,700.
Next into the show arena came the goats, and this year there were 48 projects, compared to 45 in 2021. The goats at this year’s auction brought in a total of $60,350; while last year the species brought $52,050 into the auction.
The final species of the night for this year’s auction — the order in which the different species are sold rotates each year — were the sheep.
Adalyn Archer raised this year’s Grand Champion, and it was sold to Chandler Chevrolet/Chandler Select for $2,750. Her sister, Halle Archer, raised the Reserve Grand Champion this year, and it was sold to Car Country/Tom Tepe-Bernie for $3,000.
In total, the sheep exhibit saw 19 projects which brought a total of $29,250. In 2021, there were 19 sheep, and they sold for a total of $22,300.
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For the second straight year Chandler Chevrolet/Chandler Select was the top buyer at the livestock auction. This year they won bids totaling $33,325.
The second place volume buyer was Car Country/Tom Tepe-Bernie, which spent a total of $22,600 on Saturday afternoon; and Haskell & Morrison Funeral Home was the third highest volume buyer, spending a total of $7,050 on Saturday.