Washington County Livestock Auction Benefits Area Youths

More Than 100 4-H’ers and FFA Members Show Their Animals Thursday

Wyett Kutz, 10, right, of West Fork and Cade Young, 5, of Farmington, left, prepare to show their market lambs
Thursday during the Junior Livestock Auction at the Washington County Fair in Fayetteville.

Wyett Kutz, 10, right, of West Fork and Cade Young, 5, of Farmington, left, prepare to show their market lambs Thursday during the Junior Livestock Auction at the Washington County Fair in Fayetteville.

Friday, August 30, 2013

FAYETTEVILLE — Jarid Mounce put the final touches on his red angus steer, Rusty, in the moments leading up to Thursday’s junior livestock auction at the Washington County Fair.

He brushed and worked conditioner into Rusty’s auburn coat, hoping to raise top dollar to help pay for his schooling at Northwest Technical Institute. Rusty eventually fetched $500 from a bidder with

At A Glance (w/logo)

Washington County Fair

Today

• 10 a.m.: Gates open

• 10 a.m.: Open beef show

• 5 p.m.: Carnival midway opens

• 5 to 9 p.m.: Pig races at top of each hour

• 5:30 to 7:30 p.m.: Lawnmower Pull

• 7 p.m.: Livestock Beauty Pageant

• 7 p.m. Boston Mountain Playboys, Latco Stage

• Midnight to 3 a.m.: Midway Midnight Madness

Where: Washington County Fairgrounds, 2536 N. McConnell Ave.

Admission: $5, adults; free for children 6 and under.

More info: 587-0847, mywashingtoncountyfair.com

Source: Staff Report

Walker Masonry & Sons in Prairie Grove.

Livestock doesn’t actually change hands at the annual auction. But dozens of individuals and business owners show up anyway with checkbooks in hand as a show of support for young people who want to stay involved in agriculture.

“I just think it’s good that kids get some reward for working their butts off for months leading up to this,” said John Everett, who owns a farm with more than 100 head of cattle in Prairie Grove. “It’s terribly time-consuming and challenging for them.”

Thursday was Mounce’s final exhibition in the junior livestock auction. He’s been participating in the fair since he was 3 years old.

The 18-year-old Farmington High School graduate was one of about 125 4-H’ers and FFA members to parade into the livestock arena to show cows, pigs, rabbits and sheep Thursday.

Ashleigh Mueller, a sophomore at Har-Ber High School, said she planned to use any money she earned from showing a market lamb and fryer chicken to buy more livestock and feed for next year’s competition. Mueller said she wants to eventually pursue a doctorate degree in animal nutrition from Oklahoma State University in Stillwater.

Not all youths who exhibit their animals at the fair get a chance to participate in the livestock auction. Grand champions and reserve champions in each category automatically qualify. It’s then up to the fair’s judges to determine who else gets to enter.

“It’s a huge privilege to make it,” said Stephanie Pendergraft, chairwoman of this year’s auction.

In exchange for bidders’ contributions, participating youths served up dinner before the auction and gave high bidders a gift, often in the form of a basket full of homemade jams or jellies.

The auction continued past press time Thursday, but Pendergraft said more than $110,000 was raised for 4-H and FFA members last year.

“Every year it keeps climbing, and we hope it continues to grow,” she said.

The total amount raised along with a list of all buyers will eventually be posted to the Washington County Fair’s website, mywashingtoncountyfair.com.