GREENUP — The stands of the H. L. “Hobie” Vanhoose Livestock Pavilion were packed when bidding started Saturday afternoon at the Greenup County Fair’s livestock auction.
After a hearty lunch of barbecue sandwiches, baked beans and other fixins’ the crowd settled in to watch the animals raised by children in the area’s 4-H and Future Farmers of America programs be sold to the highest bidders.
At the end of a long day of bidding, the 130 animals sold for a combined total of more than $106,000, according to Kathy Junker, 4-H Youth Development agent. While the numbers were down from previous years, Junker said she thought “it was a great sale in our economy.”
Many of the children said they expected as much.
Courtney Tackett, 17, whose 550-pound grand champion feeder calf, Ben, sold for $1.90 per pound, said she was a little disappointed he hadn’t earned more, but stressed she’s not in it for the money.
By the time she buys feed and another calf for the following year’s fair, Tackett said it’s normally about a wash anyway.
She says she participates because she “enjoys it.”
It’s the only thing that I actually do. I do school and I do this.”
Tackett is good at it, too. She has been showing for seven years, has had six grand champions and five reserve champions. Her secret?
“Hard work does pay off,” she says, with a wide grin.
She adds raising the animals has also taught her responsibility and how to care for others.
They are lessons Tim Tolliver believes both his children, Taylor Tolliver, 15, and Laykin Tolliver, 10, have also learned.
“It’s a good life lesson for them and it teaches them good work ethics,” Tim Tolliver said. “That way when they grow up and they get out of school they will know responsibility, be able to take care of their family, take care of themselves — know they have to work for a living.”
Taylor’s grandfather gave him his first feeder cow when he was 8 and since then he’s has raised a number of champion animals including this year’s FFA grand champion market hog. Little sister Laykin raised her first grand champion hog this year, too.
Both say they enjoy it and have learned a lot “for the future,” but Taylor Tolliver said there’s another reason he enjoys raising livestock.
“We’re the next generation,” he said. “We’re carrying it on.”
The Greene Family was also gathered Saturday to watch two of their youngest members excel in what has become a family tradition for them too.
Although Isaiah Greene, 10, said he was relieved to be selling his grand champion lamb Bonnie — whose partner-in-crime Clyde was raised by his sister, Madison, 11 — he’s looking forward to next year already.
“I’ve always wanted to do a pig,” he said.
Isaiah’s mother Amanda Greene, 30, who raised steers as a teenager, said she hopes her children enjoy it as much as she and her brother did.
“I guess I never really thought of it as a family tradition, but it’s just something I don’t guess I never really thought of them not doing,” she said. “It’s just something that we enjoyed and couldn’t wait until they got old enough — big enough to do it.”
She said the most satisfying part of the tradition is the “time it allows the family to spend together.”
We are always all going our separate ways so this is a good thing where we can all work together.” Greene said.
CARRIE STAMBAUGH can be reached at cstambaugh@dailyindependent.com or (606) 326-2653.
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