Saturday afternoon was full of emotion as teens auctioned off their prize livestock. For some, this was their last chance to experience and enjoy the thrill of raising and selling their steers, calves, goats, and lambs. The auction started promptly at 9:30 a.m. and finished at 3:45 p.m.
The action was non-stop. Facilitators and auctioneers didn’t even pause for a lunch break. Instead, they were brought plates of food to where they sat and stood.
The first livestock auctioned off belonged to Luke Grauer, an 18-year-old from Shiloh. A steer named Lincoln Jr. brought $10,000 on the auction block, breaking the previous record of $5,600.
Grauer has been part of the Crestview FFA for 9 years. This year is his last.
“I wanted to go off with a bang,” he said. He did just that by selling the grand champion steer, grand champion lamb, grand champion feeder calf, and reserve champion dairy feeder calf. His total in earnings for the day totaled $14,050. Grauer plans to set aside the money toward his college fund.
He also received the Outstanding Exhibitor Award for Market Steer 2013.
“I am overwhelmed, I didn’t think this would happen,” said Grauer with tears in his eyes after selling Lincoln Jr. for $10,000.
The record breaking would not stop there. Kristen Eisenhauer sold her Boer goat for a record breaking $2,000.00 to Mill Iron Auto Parts and Mill Iron’s Iron & Metal. She was awarded the Outstanding Exhibitor Award for Market Goat 2013.
Eisenhauer, a 16-year-old from Shelby, said, “I am really happy about today. Raising a goat takes a lot of effort. It’s really nice to be awarded. My advice [to others raising goats] would be to put effort into it. Don’t expect to just get it.”
She plans to attend either The Ohio State University or Texas A&M University with a major in “something to do with agriculture.” The money she earned from the auction will go to her college fund.
Perhaps the most touching and emotional moment of the day, however, belongs to the Shepherd family. In May, Ronnie Shepherd, died in a car crash. He was 56-years-old and worked for Mid-Wood Inc.
Hannah Shepherd, Ronnie’s niece, sold her beef feeder calf for the highest bid of the day: $11,000. The funds will go towards the “In Loving Memory of Ronnie Shepherd” Future Farmers of America Scholarship and Hannah’s college fund. This was her tenth, and last, year participating in the auction. The sale was met with a standing ovation.
“He is a person you could never replace,” said widowed Annie Shepherd.
Robin Gowitzka, a family friend, said, “This was the best tribute you could do for a family dealing with loss. So awesome.”
Hannah and Ronnie Shepherd shared a special relationship. They would spend hours hunting together, and prepping livestock for the auction at the fair. Hannah said they were very close as she fought back tears.
Among top sellers for their steers, calves, hogs, goats, and lambs were Logan Vail, Taylor Elliot, Jerod Fulmer, Madeline Harriman, Morgan Fackler, Sarah Cook, Ashley Franklin, Johnathan Metzger, Walker Fackler, Adam Cook, Connor Ladd, Morgan Baker, Kelcie Chance, Christian Fagan, Macy Lynch, Nicole Cook, Brett Chance, Brianna Gwirtz, Morgan Roush, Darian Miller, Madeline Harriman, Cassidy Loughman, Cody Loughman, Allison Nething, Cassidy Thomas, Paige Divelbiss, Kayla Ritz, Sam Krupa, Zach Temple, Seth Wasilewski, Kristen Wasilewski, Spencer McGinty, Kayla Dawson, Taylor Elliot, Cory Swartzmiller, Logan Vail, Molly Hoyda, Cory Fidler, Shiloh Stuart, Andy Stockmaster, Ambur Arnold, Connor Ladd, and Abby Motter.
John Brown, President of Richland Bank and frequent donor of Saturday’s auction, offered these words: “It’s a great thing, you know? It’s not like this money goes to waste. The money goes to some really great, hard working kids.”
Many of these youth will come back next year with another animal to auction off. Some say goodbye to the tradition, but will remain supporters and vital parts of a vibrant Richland County.
It’s a great thing, you know? It’s not like this money goes to waste. The money goes to some really great, hard working kids.
