Robo Wash purchased Wyatt Harrington’s grand champion market steer at the 57th Annual 4-H Meat Animal Sale. Photo courtesy Little Creek Photography.

Photo caption: Robo Wash purchased Wyatt Harrington’s grand champion market steer

57th Annual 4-H Meat Animal Sale Results

DUNKIRK, NEW YORK (August 3, 2021) -- Cornell Cooperative Extension of Chautauqua County’s 4-H Youth Development Program held the 57th Annual 4-H Meat Animal Sale on Saturday, July 24th, 2021 during the Chautauqua County 4-H “Unfair.”

Local businesses and 4-H supporters were out in full force. A total of 119 animals were sold at this annual event with 12 animals donated back from buyers. The profits of the re-selling of the animals go to a charity of the buyer’s choice. Youth can also choose to donate a portion of their sales to a charity of their choice. This year nearly $10,000 in donations were raised to benefit various projects and scholarship funds.

This year’s sale began with the Pledge of Allegiance, a suggestion by 4-Her Hunter Colvin who led the crowd in the pledge. The Hog Project Memorial Scholarship winner was also announced. Corinne Covert received the $500.00 scholarship held at the Chautauqua Region Community Foundation.

Lilly Underberg raised the grand champion market hog. The hog was purchased by James Staub for $6.25/lb. Leah Chase, a first-year 4-H participant, raised the reserve grand champion hog bought by New Beginnings Restaurant for $5.50/lb. Lucas Overend received top dollar for his Duroc hog purchased for $8.50/lb. by Hope’s Windows. The average price for 55 hogs was $4.88 per pound.

The grand champion meat goat was raised by Levi Overend and was purchased by Stevens Brothers for $400.00. Baker Huntington’s reserve grand champion meat goat was purchased by Garrett Catanese for $425.00. A total of 8 meat goats sold for an averaged $450.00 per head.

The Market Chicken program had 29 pairs of birds to offer in this year’s sale. The average price per pair was $350.00. Kamryn Harper received the grand champion market poultry honors and sold her pair of Cornish Rock Cross birds for $250.00 to Doug and Sue Harper. Rachael Harper raised the reserve grand champion pair of market birds also purchased by Doug and Sue Harper for $285.00. Abigail Carlberg’s pair of birds were the top earners of the day selling for $600.00 to K.B. BioEnergy.

Lydia Covert and Jaiden Huntington were in winner’s circle in the lamb project, receiving grand and reserve champion market lamb honors. Lydia’s lamb was purchased by longtime sale supporters Richard and Nancy Shaver for $8.75/lb. Jaiden’s reserve champion lamb was purchased by Edward Jones Investments for $9.00/lb. Jaiden Huntington and Ella Underberg tied for the top-selling lamb. Ella’s lamb was also purchased for $9.00/lb. by James Staub. The fourteen market lambs in the sale averaged $5.71/lb.

The beef project had 12 excellent steers to offer the community at this year’s sale. Robo Wash purchased Wyatt Harringtons grand champion steer, Wildcat, for $5.50/lb. Lydia Covert’s reserve grand champion steer was purchased by Decker Oil for $4.00/lb. The average price for steers at this year’s sale was $4.30/lb.

Local auctioneers volunteer their time and without them, the 4-H Meat Animal Sale wouldn’t be possible. This year Andy Campbell, Dale Eckman, Dakota Peterson, and Heath Reed volunteered their auctioneer talent for the sale. Corey Schauman, Kayla Schauman, Patrick Kibbe and Bob Styers helped in the ring for the duration of the sale. Abbie Gzregorzewski, Little Creek Photography, donated her time and photographed every youth with their buyer.

An often-overlooked community partner of the 4-H Meat Animal Sale each year are the area slaughterhouses who truck and process 4-H meat animals. There is a high demand for animal processing in our area and without the support of the slaughterhouses, the 4-H Meat Animal Sale would not be possible. Each year Coffaro’s Custom Butchering, Kennedy Meat Market (KMM), and Steven’s Brothers Processing devote the week following the fair to processing 4-H animals. HLW Acres in Attica, NY process the market chickens. Thank you, processors, for your support of 4-H!

The 4-H Youth Development Program is one of many programs offered by Cornell Cooperative Extension of Chautauqua County (CCE-Chautauqua). CCE-Chautauqua is a community based educational organization, affiliated with Cornell University, Chautauqua County Government, the NYS SUNY system, and the federal government through the United States Department of Agriculture’s National Institute of Food and Agriculture. For more information, call 716-664-9502 or visit our website at www.cce.cornell.edu/chautauqua. Cornell University Cooperative Extension provides equal program and employment opportunities.

Last updated August 3, 2021