Most people wouldn’t think of making a bid at an auction knowing they’ll likely get nothing for their money.
But that’s what over 100 bidders were told Saturday morning just before the start of the Bartholomew County 4-H Livestock Sale.
“Your bid is to support the 4-H kids,” auctioneer Mike Mensendiek said. “The animal will still belong to the child.”
Many county fairs have banned animals that have consumed ractopamine, the active ingredient in feed additives like Paylean or Optaflexx, according to a Jan. 2, 2021 article published on the Meat+Poultry website.
Although the additive has been used in feeding commercial and show pigs for decades in the U.S., packers and export markets have been asking for ractopamine-free pork to comply with a ban from China and other countries, the online article stated. The ban has grown in importance because the African Swine Fever is expected to increase the demand for American pork products.
With huge export potential for U.S. pork, the commercial hog industry has been quick to phase out of ractopamine use, and packers do not want to jeopardize international marketing opportunities because of 4-H pigs, according to the website article.
“Our stockyards were hesitant to take 4-H pigs and we saw a definite shift to people wanting their 4-H animal to go to a butcher for meat,” livestock auction committee member Becky Speaker said.
But on Saturday, buyers were also told they would be allowed to try to work with the 4-H exhibitor to purchase the animal for personal use processing, Speaker said.
After the announcement was made, a number of bidders said they weren’t bothered because they bid solely to support the 4-H program.
Tony Bozell, CEO of Tallman Equipment Company Inc. of Columbus, says he admires the program for teaching its young members about succeeding in the real world.
“What the kids learn is getting up, going to work, understanding their costs, and the need to make a profit,” Bozell said. “Whether it’s hot or cold, these kids are working and learning consistently. This is much more important about building character and creating good Americans than anything else that happens.”
As a child, bidder Janet Anthony was a 4-H member in Orange County, and has served as both a 4-H leader and show judge as an adult.
“I just love the 4-H mission,” said Anthony, a long-time board member with Bartholomew County REMC. “It’s very hard to pay for all those projects, but the club members learn so much from budgeting and working out their budgets, as well as getting the materials and the animals that are necessary to be an exhibitor.”
At the end of the livestock sale, a total of $193,025 had been raised. Although that’s down from $255,686 two years ago, this year’s total was up substantially from the $108,000 brought in during last year’s virtual, on-line auction that followed a cancelled fair.
Overall, this year’s fair “felt a little off this year,” 15-year-old exhibitor Cameron Naylor said.
As the incoming sophomore at CSA New Tech was waiting to take his 247-pound pig into the ring to be auctioned, Naylor said he had a good time over the nine-day event.
“But there were not as many pigs here,” the son of Lee Naylor and Angie Meek said. “We only had about half as many animals as we usually do.”
While also expressing disappointment that rain had cancelled two of his favorite grandstand events, Naylor was also counting his blessings.
“I’m just glad the fair actually happened,” the teen said. “There weren’t as many classes (in livestock competitions), but we still did good.”
Bartholomew County Extension director Elisabeth Eaton also expressed satisfaction with this year’s 4-H exhibitions.
“I think we have bounced back,” Eaton said. “We had a great fair, as well as a great opportunity for the members to showcase their work.”
Another swine exhibitor, Ben Kriete, said that while showing was fun, the incoming high school senior added he mostly enjoyed socializing at the livestock barn. The son of Monica Kriete said the fair always gives him the opportunity to hang out with his cousins, and talk with other teens he hadn’t seen in a long time.
But perhaps the end of the fair is toughest on 10-year members who know their time in 4-H has come to an end.
Makena Jackson, the 18-year-old daughter of Robert and Cathy Jackson, exhibited no less than 17 animals during her final year as a 4-H member. Now, the recent Columbus East High School graduate is focused on preparing to move to Nashville, Tennessee, to attend Trevecca Nazarene University.
“I’m ready for the next chapter in my life, but this one (in 4-H) is a hard one to close,” Jackson said. “It’s been such a big part of my life, and has resulted in so many different friendships.”
But Jackson said one of the things she enjoyed most during her final year was watching the youngest exhibitors come out of the pavilion after showing their animals.
“You see that big smile when they come out with a ribbon,” Jackson said. “That’s really what all of this is all about for me. Even if it’s not my own win, it’s fun to see someone else smile and be happy.”
