By Vernon Robison
Moapa Valley Progress
Exhibitors, family members, buyers and bystanders trudged through wind, rain, thunder, hail and even snow on Saturday to attend the Clark County Junior Livestock Association (CCJLA) annual auction at the Clark County Fair. And despite economic conditions which have proven just as glum as the weather that day, all of the animals found buyers.
The number of animals in the show was significantly lower this year than in recent years. The 2011 auction buyers’ guide only had 145 total entries, as compared to 198 last year and as many as 223 back in 2007.
“We had about twenty less beef than we had last year and only half the hogs,” said CCJLA Fair Liaison Stan Hardy.
Hardy said that this was partly due to the fact that many animals brought in as candidates to the weigh-in did not make their weight requirements. All animals in the show are raised by youth exhibitors and must meet strict weight requirements to be entered.
But the regional economy also has had an effect on the number of entries to the show, Hardy said. “It is quite an investment to raise one of these animals both in time and money; especially a steer,” he said. “And with the economy there is a little uncertainty on whether you will get it back.”
Though the number of animals was down, the market prices at auction remained firm, according to final tally after the auction. The 32 steers sold at the auction yielded a total of $124,296, averaging in at $3.29/lb. The show’s 68 pig entries sold for a total of $85,176, averaging $4.92/lb. Thirty lambs were auctioned for a total of $18,473 with a $4.76/lb average. The eleven goats in the show auctioned for $4,384, and average of $4.73/lb.
The total proceeds of the livestock auction came in at $232,331. With 53 fewer entries, most from the high-dollar steer and hog categories, that total was down about 34% from last year.
Still CCJLA officials were pleased with the result. “We were afraid that it would be a lot lower than that,” Hardy said. “Once we looked at the final numbers at the end of the day, it was actually an outstanding auction.”
Hardy said that the auction saw a diverse group of buyers with fewer big buyers and more individual buyers.
“As usual, we had a couple of buyers that really stepped in and took care of us,” Hardy said. These included thousands of dollars in multiple purchases from CCJLA auction regulars like R.C. Farms, Combs Bros., Ron and Pat Lewis and an anonymous buyer from Lincoln County.
“But there were also a lot of individuals that came in and bought animals,” Hardy said. “A lot of family members and relations of exhibitors.”
The auction is the final event in the annual CCJLA livestock show. Youth exhibiting animals begin the process many months earlier by purchasing the highest quality animal possible. They devote a lot of time nurturing and raising their animal, feeding it only the finest feeds, exercising the animal consistently and mixing in plenty of tender loving care.
The auction began with the Grand Champions and Reserve Champions in each category.
The Grand Champion steer, exhibited by Victoria Magoon, weighed in at 1,145 lbs and sold to Mesquite Material Testing at $5.00/lb. a total of $5,725. The Reserve Champion Steer exhibited by Wyatt Morgan weighed 1,180 lbs and sold to Ken Black for $8.25/lb, a total of $9,735.
In the swine category, the Grand Champion was exhibited by Shalee Hafen. The animal weighed in at 244 lbs and sold to Bob Combs of RC Farms for $11/lb a total of $2,684. The Reserve Champion pig was exhibited by Cole Keller. It weighed 259 lbs and sold to Combs Brothers for $4.50/lb a total of $1,166.
The Grand Champion lamb weighed in at 154 lbs was exhibited by McKaela Henrie. The winning bidder was Janet Combs of RC Farms at $7.25/lb. The Reserve Champion Lamb, exhibited by Reagen Alexander, weighed 133 lbs and was purchased by Ron Lewis Memorial for $6.00/lb.
The Grand Champion goat belonging to Carly Alexander weighed in at 91 lbs and sold to Clark County Farm Bureau for $8.00/lb. The Reserve Champion goat was exhibited by Kenna McMurray. Weighing in at 99 lbs, it was sold to Ridge View Garden Assisted Living for $6.25/lb.
