WLCF Junior Livestock Auction nets $78,018 - Committee honors Bob Schoessler with Lifetime Service Award

The Wheat Land Communities’ Fair Junior Livestock Sale ran without a hitch on Sept. 1, as exhibitors and buyers gathered at the fairgrounds for the annual event. According to Livestock Sale Treasurer Lori Williams, this year’s auction grossed $78,018, which is comparable to previous years.

“This sale is a culmination of up to a year’s investment for our area youth. They are working to create a quality product, while learning to be part of the food supply chain,” Williams stated. “Thank you to all the businesses and supporters who are part of our annual Junior Livestock Sale.”

Even with the reduction in amount of animals sold and those in attendance at the auction, Williams said the committee was pleased with the outcome and grateful for the continuous community support.

The average prices per pound at the auction, by species were: beef at $2.37 for 11 steers, swine at $3.54 for 31 hogs, sheep at $3.51 for 21 lambs, and goats at $4.21 for 11 goats.

Following the sale, the Ritzville Warehouse raised all steer prices to $2.25 per pound, and all hog prices to $3.50 per pound.

For the third consecutive year, Connell Oil-Bronco Farm Supply was the Platinum Buyer at the auction.

Before the auction began, Williams took the opportunity to recognize Bob Schoessler with the Lifetime Service Award. Schoessler has been a vital part of the Livestock Committee’s volunteers and assists with contacting individuals about purchasing animals at the sale.

“When this fair started in 1981, the Adams County Cattlemen’s Association played a huge part in making this sale possible. The recipient today has been with us since day one as a buyer, volunteer, auctioneer host and resident storyteller,” Williams said before presenting the award.

Schoessler was credited for always lending a hand or equipment to assist where needed. Auctioneer Butch Booker said he had no doubts there would have been years where the event would not have happened without Schoessler’s support and assistance.

“You are family to many in this barn and a lifetime friend to our fair,” Williams stated. “Thank you for your service not only to this fair, but to our country as a Vietnam veteran and returning home to the farming community of Ritzville.”

Past recipients of the Lifetime Service Award include Booker Auction and Dr. Tim Johnstone.

The extreme success of the sale is attributed to the hard work of local volunteers and exhibitors to contact potential buyers before the start of the auction, and the outstanding support from community members and businesses.

The auction is divided into departments by species, with hogs being sold first, followed by steers, sheep and goats. This year, no rabbits or poultry were sold at the auction.

In the beef department, the grand champion FFA steer exhibited by Abby Gering sold for $3.30 per pound to Connell Oil-Bronco Farm Supply. Alyssa Williams sold the 4-H grand champion steer for $3 to Marcia Williams and Stockland Livestock.

Zoe Galbreath sold the 4-H reserve champion steer for $2 to Connell Oil-Bronco Farm Supply. Taylor Galbreath sold her reserve champion FFA steer for $2.40 per pound to Connell Oil-Bronco Farm Supply.

In the 4-H sheep division, Hannah Vasquez sold her grand champion lamb for $5 per pound to RDO Equipment. Gemini Correll exhibited the 4-H reserve champion lamb, which was purchased by Darrell and Diane Koss for $5.25 per pound.

FFA exhibitor Alibama Rushing sold her grand champion lamb for $9 a pound to Gem Air. Hayley Rushing’s reserve champion lamb sold for $6.50 per pound to The McGregor Company.

Alexis Melcher exhibited the FFA grand champion goat, which sold for $8.50 per pound to Wilbur-Ellis. Melcher also had the reserve champion FFA goat, which sold for $4.50 per pound to RDO Equipment.

In the 4-H division, Bailey Dennis sold her grand champion goat to Legacy Power and Telecommunications for $4.75 a pound. Connell Oil-Bronco Farm Supply purchased the reserve champion 4-H goat, exhibited by Emma Dennis, for $3.75 per pound.

In the swine department, the grand champion FFA hog exhibited by Amy Anderson sold for $5.75 a pound to Wheatland Waste. Ella Greenwalt sold the grand champion 4-H market hog for $6.50 a pound to Wheatland Bank.

Joshua Crouse raised the reserve champion FFA hog and sold the pig for $5 a pound to Representatives Joe Schmick and Mary Dye, and Senator Mark Schoesler. The hog was then donated to the My Farm, Your Table event to be held on Sept. 29 in downtown Ritzville.

The success of the 2018 auction has the livestock committee optimistic for the upcoming year and together the group is thankful for the community’s support of local youth. The money exhibitor’s raise during the auction typically is put towards fees accumulated since purchasing the animal; such as feed, hay and tack costs.

The livestock committee is in charge of collecting entries for the fair, setting up the livestock show arenas and pens for the fair, and coordinating the livestock auction. The group is also responsible for finding judges for each individual livestock department during the fair.

The majority of work for the committee comes at the conclusion of the auction with recording buyer information, sending invoices and coordinating check payments for the exhibitors.

At the conclusion of the auction, the Livestock Sale committee provided each exhibitor with a certificate of appreciation. The exhibitors were required to approach their buyers, thank them for their support and present them with the tokens of appreciation.

All buyers were encouraged to display the certificates within their business or home.

The annual livestock auction is ran by Booker Auction, who volunteers to donate their time to coordinate the event.