By STEPHANIE BUNKER
Moapa Valley Progress
One of the main highlights at the Clark County Fair is the Clark County Jr. Livestock Association (CCJLA) show and auction. The fair crowd gets to see and experience the atmosphere of a livestock show, and to watch friends and relatives work and perform with the animals they have raised over the last several months.
Those that choose to show livestock put months of work ahead of time into their animal. They have to feed, walk, and groom the livestock regularly. They learn about the feed, different cuts of meat, and other things about their animal.
A particular aspect that the President of the CCJLA Board Corey Houston wants to focus on is teaching the kids to help each other out and learn from one another.
“The show has gotten a little more commercial and we want to bring it back into being a family affair,” Houston said.
He said that he wants the kids to learn respect and to help their friends out. Houston observed many participants take the time to stop and give advice to those who need some assistance.
“I would like to see that all around and have a friendly and happy competition,” he said.
The judge for the Clark County Livestock Show this year was Matt Kennedy from Oklahoma. He judged the quality of the animal on Thursday during the Market show. Friday was Showmanship which focused mainly on the exhibitor and how well they presented themselves and their animals.
The Livestock Auction was held on Saturday. It is what everyone has been working towards. The funds collected for each animal go to the exhibitor for raising the animal, and for butcher. There are many generous buyers and sponsors to support the youth. Duke Cox was the Auctioneer; he has participated in the CCJLA auction for many years.
The CCJLA staff had buyers pre-register. By pre-registering, when the buyer wins the bid on the animal the announcer will already know their name and can give them credit for their contribution. The auctioneer can also see who has donated money to the exhibitor and announce that to the crowd as well. People that didn’t have an animal lined up to buy could register and then bid on any animal they chose.
“The auction went well as we can see by the buyer numbers,” said Ivona Magoon who is over CCJLA public relations. “We are happy with those that come year after year to support the kids and their education.”
Magoon said looking back and seeing the numbers that dropped 5 years ago, the livestock show seemed to be coming out of it.
“There are many generous Ag minded supporters and buyers,” she said.
The amount of total money raised at the auction has been increasing each year. With 175 animals auctioned off they raised $404,180.25. Last year in 2014 they had 163 exhibitors and raised $322,573.00. Comparing 2015 to 2013 there were approximately the same amount of exhibitors but significantly more money made, in 2013 there were 171 exhibitors and $294,936.00 raised.
This year there were 38 registered steers that went to auction. The average price per pound was $4.62. The amount of money made on steers was $214,493.25.
Eleven goats were auctioned off at an average of $10.12 per pound totaling $8,471 made in the goat division.
There were 33 lambs auctioned off with an average price of $8.64 per pound totaling $39,037.50 made.
The swine division had 93 hogs auctioned off at an average price of $5.72 per pound, collecting $142,178.50 total.
The Grand Champion Steer was exhibited by Ronald Bullock and it weighed 1,325 lbs. Frontier Ag Service and Allen Basso received the winning bid at $7/lb. The Reserve Champion Steer exhibited by Tatyana Bullock weighed 1350 lbs and was sold to Frontier Ag Service for $7/lb.
The Grand Champion lamb was exhibited by Keypher Bullock, it weighed 160 lbs and was bought by Frontier Ag Service. The winning bid for Grand Champion was $20/lb. Reserve Champion lamb was exhibited by Josie Henrie and it weighed 157 lbs. Southwest Skin & Cancer LLC purchased the lamb at $12.50/lb.
The Grand Champion goat exhibitor was Bronc Barlow. His goat weighed 79 lbs and was bought by Wade Livestock for $10/lb. Reserve Grand Champion Goat was exhibited by Taytum Yardley and it weighed 98 lbs. It was purchased by Glen and Shirley Hardy for $7/lb.
Swine Grand Champion was exhibited by Kassidy Mathews and it weighed 280 lbs. Valley Enterprises purchased the swine for $6.50/lb. Reserve Champion Swine was exhibited by Keypher Bullock and it weighed 255 lbs. Frontier Ag Service and Allen Basso bought it for $10.25/lb.
