Junior livestock sale grosses $274k

Despite having 17 fewer animals up for bid, the Big Horn County Fair junior livestock sale still managed to eclipse last year's total as buyers shelled out more than a quarter million dollars for steers, lambs, hogs, sheep, goats and rabbits Saturday afternoon in Basin.

Casey Sorenson of the livestock sales committee said this year's sale grossed $274,083, up slightly from last year's take of $270,773 and considerably more than the sales of 2021, $244,059, and 2020, $237,646.

Most remarkable, it took 17 fewer animals to produce this year's total. There were 112 this year, including 35 lambs, 30 hogs, 24 goats, 21 steers and two rabbits.

"The community showed up, as always, to support our youth," read a statement that Sorenson shared on behalf of the livestock sales committee. "The sale started out slow, but about halfway through, the prices started to increase and sustain through the remainder of the sale. 

"We had some new buyers, buyers outside of the county, but most of the support has come from the same buyers that have supported the fair and our youth for decades."

The 24 goats that sold brought an average of $13.66 per pound.  Blakely Piper's brought the most, going for $32 per pound.   No other goat brought more than $21 per pound.  First Interstate Bank/King Enterprises was the purchaser.

The 30 hogs that sold brought at average of $7.06 per pound.   Nellie Guccion had the top one; her hog went for $15 per pound with Simplot Grower listed as the purchaser.

In the lamb category, 35 were sold, averaging $14.16 per pound.   Sammy Boardman's blew that average out of the water, going for $85 per pound.  Legend Rock Ranch of Casper bought it, shelling out $11,390.

The two rabbits that sold went for an average of $575.  The one brought by Bret Winters fetched the most, going to Helena Ag Enterprises for $600.

The 21 steers that sold went for average of $4.69 per pound.  Reaghan Foss had the top seller, as her beef project sold for $9.75 per pound.   Paintrock Angus/Greybull Valley Angus was the purchaser.

The livestock sales committee also reported that resale prices were up compared to last year.

"It was a good sale and I appreciate the volunteers, the kids, and the buyers that all make it happen," the committee said in a statement.