On Sept. 24, the 4-H Programs of Herkimer & Oneida Counties held their Third Annual Mohawk Valley 4-H Dairy & Livestock Show & Sale at the Herkimer County Fairgrounds. At the conclusion of the shows, five 4-H members sold six head of livestock including four beef steers and two market hogs at the sale.
Of the six animals sold, four were then donated back by the buyers to be resold with proceeds to benefit the 4-H show and sale program. Buyers and potential buyers were treated to a “buyer’s reception” before the start of the auction featuring local foods.
At the conclusion of the auction, several buyers each purchased multiple lots offered. Art White of Whites Farm Supply purchased the champion steer, sold by Eleonore Collins as well as the reserve champion hog, also sold by Eleonore Collins, which was first purchased by Farm Credit East and then donated back to be resold.
John Calidonna of Clinton Tractor and Implement, purchased the reserve champion steer, sold by Natalee Collins on its second trip through the sale ring as well as another blue ribbon steer, sold by Sam Donahoe, which he then donated back to the program. Doug Thompson of G&T Farm in Richfield Springs, purchased a market steer, sold by Seth Donahoe, which he donated back to be resold while he was also the highest bidder on the champion market hog, sold by Logen Spellman.
The gavel dropped for Farm Credit East, on both the first sale of the reserve champion market steer and the reserve champion market hog, donating them both back to be resold. Rounding out the beef sales, the gavel dropped for both C&W Automotive and the Don Marsh Insurance Agency on second sales of blue ribbon winning steers.
Auction revenue totaled almost $13,000 with over $5,000 of that being from second time sales which will be used to hold this annual event. 4-H members will use their monies in various ways including purchasing new market animals for next years’ auction, college tuition and donations to various charities.
A special thank you to the buyers & bidders that came out to support our 4-H youth, our auctioneer, Empire Livestock Services, our ring men, Jeff & Rick Donahoe as well as those who sponsored this event including: Herkimer County Fairgrounds, Central New York Farm Progress Show, Herkimer County Farm Bureau, Herkimer County Dairy Promotion, ATRASS Farm and Salmstead Farm.
For more information on this and other 4-H programs, please contact, Jennifer Collins in Herkimer County jlr34@cornell.edu 315-866-7920 or Sarah Hardy in Oneida County seb286@cornell.edu 315-736-3394.