A crossbred steer owned by Jacob Reeves and offered at Thursday night’s annual Allen County Fair livestock auction may have had an inkling of what fate had in store.
Weighing a bit over half a ton, the steer balked at entering the sale ring and had to be sold from the entry chute.
Most others complied and walked into the ring under guidance of their young owners.
When the gavel fell for the last time, 59 animals drew total premiums of $49,775. The breakout was $22,450 for 22 steers, $19,750 for 24 hogs, $4,250 for seven goats and $3,325 for six lambs.
Steers were first on the block. Brooklyn Storrer’s crossbred grand champion, weighing 1,335 pounds, drew a premium of $3,400, which when added to the base bid market price of $1,535.25 put $4,935.25 in young Brooklyn’s pocket.
Twin Motors, United Missouri Bank of Fort Scott, Superior Products and Apache Sprayers split the grand champion steer premium.
On the average, the steers fetched $1,025.
The highest premium of the night went to Briann Burris’ grand champion hog, a crossbred weighing 293 pounds.
Twin Motors and Storrer Implement ponied up $3,800. With a base bid of $164, the total was $3,964.
The average premium among 24 hogs was $823.
The average for goats was $607, for lambs $554.
Allen County 4-H Boosters added money for steer, hog and lamb premiums, which meant not a steer drew a premium of less than $750, hogs $600 and lambs $500.
The sale was open to livestock entered in the fair by 4-H and FFA members that won blue or red ribbons. Owners had the option of offering an animal for sale.
Buyers also had the option of either paying just the premium and letting the animal go to a processor or taking possession, which also meant assuming the base bid.
The sale concluded fair activities at Riverside Park, except for Friday morning’s cleanup.
The fair’s Demolition Derby is at Humboldt Speedway, two miles east of Humboldt, starting at 7 this evening. Admission is $10 or two event tickets.
