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Hard Work Pays Off At Livestock Sale

Jim Konkoly/Highlands Today

Tori Stephenson, 14, hugs her 1,137-pound steer, Tigger, as she prepared for the annual Junior Livestock Auction Thursday night at the Highlands County Fair.

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By JIM KONKOLY

Highlands Today

Published: January 31, 2009

SEBRING - A half year or more of hard work paid off Thursday night for more than 100 students in 4-H and Future Farmers of America clubs as they sold their livestock at the annual Junior Livestock Auction at the Highlands County Fair.

Nine-year-old Amery Bass of Venus was carrying on a family tradition by taking Percy, a steer that gained about 600 pounds under his care for six months, into the auction ring in front of several hundred people.

At about 70 pounds, the third-grader confidently took hold of a lead rope and led his 1,210-pound steer by his side.

"It was a lot fun," Amery said about learning to raise and show a steer. With the money earned from the sale, he said, "First I'm going to pay my mom and dad back for the feed they bought, and put the rest into my savings account."

His parents, Ladd and Renee, who raise cattle in the Venus area, each raised livestock for Junior Livestock auctions when they were growing up and said the experience helps teach responsibility at an early age.

"Yes, I am proud of him," Ladd Bass said. "It takes a little bit of courage to get a hold of a 1,200-pound animal and lead him out there."

Sisters Alex, 14, and Tori, 12, Stephenson were selling steers they raised for the fourth consecutive year. They don't come from a farm family but decided to try it four years ago after watching their friends, Bailey and Blake Vickers, take on county fair livestock projects.

Tori, who hopes to become a veterinarian, was relieved that her steer, Tigger, finally came around after being hard to train for the show arena.

"Mine was really stubborn," she said. "Pretty much, even a week before the fair, he was throwing me down and running off," she said. "But here at fair week, he's calmed down."

Tori said she's enjoyed the experience of each livestock project, but finds it hard to say goodbye to her steer.

"I cry a little bit every year" after the auction, she said.

Alex said all the early morning and after-school hours she worked raising her steer, Stud Muffin, for six months are more than worth it.

"I had to give up some parties and hanging out with my friends, especially the month before fair, because you have to work with him every day," she said. But it's all worth it, she said, because "fair week is the best part of it. You're here with your animals and friends and you to get show them and see how good your cow really is."

Alex has her sights set on becoming an orthodontist but said she'll stay connected to the farm life she's learned about.

"When I grow up I want to raise cows, and I know I want to be involved with the FFA, too," she said.

Randy Gornto, the county livestock extension agent, worked the auction as a fair board volunteer and watched his 17-year-old daughter, Bailey, auction her steer.

"The kids work really hard in getting these livestock projects together, and it involves everybody," he said. "There's not anybody in the family who gets left out, the whole family gets involved in some form or fashion.

"It's a good event for the kids, it's an event they really have to spend a lot of time on," he added. "It teaches them responsibility and builds the character we want them to have. And it shows them the true effects of agriculture."

Thirty-eight steers, 10 heifers and 85 hogs were sold at the auction, and Gornto said each student learned about the business side of agriculture as well as the care of animals.

The auction shows children firsthand how "in agriculture, you don't ever set prices," Gornto said. "It's a matter of what that auctioneer gets for you, it's a matter of bid."

During fair week, Gornto said, he sees students with livestock projects from around the county making friends and many of the teenagers mentoring the youngsters.

"They get to really build some bonds and some friendships that work throughout the years for them," he said.

With the sagging economy, sale prices were down a bit from last year, but still were in the range where the children could turn a profit.

"The local businesses really come out for these kids, and they make all the difference in whether these kids make or lose money," Gornto said.

Steers and heifers generally sold between $1.50 to $2.25 per pound. After the sales, three businesses - Crews Groves, Smoak Groves and Glisson Animal Supply - pledged to make up the difference so that every steer and heifer sale came out to at least $2 per pound.

Cruiser Crews, president of Crews Citrus, said he and the owners of Smoak's and Glisson's just did what they and other companies have done in the past to help support the 4-H and FFA students.

"We're here to support the kids and the industry," Crews said. "It's good for our area and it's good for them, it's good for the future."

Highlands Today reporter Jim Konkoly can be reached at 863-386-5855 or jkonkoly@highlandstoday.com

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