ALEXANDRIA — 4-H livestock projects were turned into cold hard cash Thursday night, as kids sold their prize winning animals during the livestock sale at the Madison County 4-H Fair.
But not everyone was smiling after their pet-project was sold to the highest bidder.
“I was sad when I had to say goodbye,” said Alaina Conrad, a 10-year-old in her second year of 4-H. “He didn’t understand though. We don’t focus on the end until it comes, because it’s not so sad that way.”
When Conrad first received her pig five months ago, it weighed 40 pounds. When it was sold on Thursday evening, it weighed 234 pounds and went for $500.
“Spending time with him made me happy,” she said with a few unshed tears clouding her eyes. “He would pick up a stick and drop it and expect me to throw it for him.”
Alaina’s mother, Casey Conrad, helped her daughter go through a similar situation the year before, although Casey said it was not as difficult then because she spent less time with the animal.
“It is a several-day process,” Casey said. “We just had to talk through it.”
But according to Kirk Kitts, Pioneer Seed sales manager for Rydman and Fox, the goodbyes are not so hard as the kids get older.
“I can remember being sad when I was real young, and sometimes you see the kids crying when they have to say goodbye,” Kitts said. “But kids are resilient, and they bounce back.”
Kitts’ company bought a number of swine and lambs from the sale.
“We probably bought about 20 different swine and a few sheep,” he said.
The livestock sale at the 4-H fair offers young people a unique opportunity to make money beyond the normal market price for the livestock they raise.
“The market price for my pig was $104,” said Kyla Rhodes, 18, who is in her 10th and final year with 4-H. “So we get the market price plus what everyone bids on for the pig.”
After a bidding war for her fourth-place swine, Rhodes ended up with $850 from the bidders, plus the market price, netting her a total of $954 for her 200-pound pig. This was her last year at the fair.
“I’m sad to be done,” she said. “Because I’m going to miss my animals, but at the same time, I’m very glad to be finished with it all. It’s time to move on.”
Most bidders at the livestock show were more interested in giving back to the kids and the 4-H community than claiming the best animals.
“We’re here to support the youth and their hard work,” Kitts said. “Everyone likes to give back to the community.”
And even though it may be hard for the kids to give up their pets, according to Kitts it is a crucial part of growing up.
“I commend them for their efforts,” he said. “It’s a lot of hard work and it teaches them responsibility. But the kids get attached to them and it’s hard to let them go. The kids may not know it now, but it’s a good life lesson for them to learn.”
Contact Garrett Stack: 640-4878, garrett.stack@heraldbulletin.com
4-H Fair
Related Photos
-
Aaron Piper
-
Aaron Piper
Discussion
4-H livestock auction brings high-priced sales
- 4-H Fair
-
-
On yet another muggy day, 4-H Fair closes
Bracelet Day at the Madison County 4-H Fair almost resembled an old western ghost town Saturday afternoon.
-
Madison County 4-H Fair: Day 6
Photos from the Madison County 4-H Fair on Thursday
-
Showmanship and responsibility
The Mares family of Lapel will bring a total of 21 horses to the Madison County 4-H Fair this week, but most of those horses will be shown by horseless children. “It teaches them responsibility and good manners,” grandfather Carl Mares said of the fair.
-
4-H Fair schedule: July 22
The Madison County 4-H Fair has activities through Saturday at the 4-H Fairgrounds at Beulah Park in Alexandria.
-
Madison County 4-H Fair: Day 5
Photos from the Madison County 4-H Fair on Thursday.
-
Many 4-H’ers donate earnings back to organization
As a 10-year 4-H member, Lydia Alexander, of Elwood, wanted to do something special during Thursday’s 4-H auction. Instead of pocketing the money she earned from auctioning her lamb, Alexander donated it back to the Madison County 4-H Association.
-
Champion exhibits more than just showmanship
Towering over his steer during Wednesday’s Supreme Showmanship competition, Brandon Brunt seemed to have little trouble directing it where to go.
“It helps to be 6-foot-4,” Brunt said. -
Madison County 4-H Fair: Day 3
Photos from the Madison County 4-H Fair in Alexandria on Tuesday.
-
4-H’ers show off livestock
Despite temperatures reaching 95 degrees, area 4-H kids did their best to show off their livestock in the sweltering show arenas where mounted metal fans were turned on “high.”
-
Madison County 4-H Fair: Day 2
Photos from the second day at the 4-H Fair and feature on Jared Burke during the Swine showings.
- More 4-H Fair Headlines
-
Pop Music Superstar Whitney Houston Dies at 48
Police: Houston Found Dead in Her Hotel Room
Paul Suffers Narrow Loss to Romney in Maine
Recording Superstar Whitney Houston Dead at 48
Maine GOP Chairman Says Romney Wins Caucuses
Palin Brings Anti-Washington Message to CPAC
Obama Scraps Birth Control Mandate
US Airmen's Killer Sentenced to Life in Germany
Navy Names Ship for Gabrielle Giffords
Raw Video: Deadly Blasts in Syria
Romney Slams President Obama at CPAC
Gingrich: Pres. Obama 'waging War on Religion'
5 Killed in Wrong-way Crash on I-10 in La.
Uzbek Man Pleads Guilty in Plot to Kill Obama
Denver's Largest-Ever Drug Bust Nets Dozens
Marines: No Punishment for Nazi-like Flag
Vets Look to Translate Military Skills Into Jobs
Raw Video: School Bus Burst Into Flames
LA School Reopens Amid Sex Abuse Scandal
$25B Settlement Reached Over Foreclosure Abuses
