The Bellville Street Fair Livestock Auction on Saturday proved productive and definitely short of penniless. Youth surrounding Richland County made the pilgrimage to the fair to show, and hopefully sel,l their livestock. Selling the animals marked the close of the four-day fair.
Some animals created a stir among the buyers, inspiring them to buy willingly. Ellyse Shafer’s Future Farmers of America (FFA) Scholarship Grand Champion pig was one example.
Shafer showed the pig for her friend, the raiser, Becca Beveridge. This was her second time showing any pig, but she has shown Grand Champion ducks in the past. Shafer attends Clear Fork High School, is involved with the 4-H program, and writes occasionally for the Bellville Star.
The pig sold for $2000 Saturday morning.
The scholarship money will be split four ways; five hundred going to four different seniors in Clear Fork FFA. Although the money will be given directly to the youth, the money will be used to offset field trip and convention costs.
“I love the atmosphere and people. I love working with people who love agriculture. This year has been really fun because the fair has run pretty smoothly,” said Shafer.
She is a junior this year. Next year she plans on running for another office in 4-H at Clear Fork.
Although smaller than the Richland County Fair Livestock Auction, Bellville still hosts a deluge of willing buyers and donors. The list includes businesses like Phillips Manufacturing, Mechanics Bank, First Knox Bank, Jamison Drilling, Mid-Ohio Safe and Lock, and the Dairy Belle and the Clear Fork FFA Alumni Association.
Clear Fork FFA Alumni bought Mackenzie Miller’s market rabbit for $125. It was the first sale of the day, and Miller’s last at the Bellville Street Fair.
Miller graduated high school this past year, and now attends The Ohio State in Mansfield as a freshman. She has shown animals and served various officer positions in 4-H for nine years and in FFA for four years.
“I really enjoy both the 4-H and the FFA programs because they offer so many opportunities for everybody. One of my favorite aspects of the programs would be the leadership opportunities that they provide,” said Miller.
Overall, it was a successful livestock auction for the youth and businesses involved. The most money paid for a single animal was the $2,000 for Shafer’s pig. But the smiles shown on the participant’s faces as their friends and family and community members bid on their animals are, and will remain, priceless.
