Sunday night of the Shawville Fair saw the long anticipated 4-H Market Steer and Lamb Auction in the outdoor showpen at the back of the fairgrounds. In front of the packed bleachers, nine 4-H members of a diverse age range presented their award winning steer and lambs for auction.

All of the animals up for auction had won awards during the 4-H Market Steer and Lamb Show on Friday morning.

Overall it was a great evening for those presenting their animals, who got to use the proceeds of the sales to fund their education, expand their herds and donate to charity.

The five steers sold at the auction averaged $8.05 per pound meaning that the average amount raised was $9,948 per member. The lambs averaged $40.75 per pound, meaning that four lambs averaged $3,812.25.

Before the show, the announcer, Phillip Holmes, encouraged potential bidders to be generous.

“When it comes time to bid, forget about how much money you’re spending,” said Holmes. “Don’t think about it for a second. Just keep those hands flying. And remember, look at the animals. Look at the kids. Don’t worry about your bank account. Okay?”

The 4-H auction also honoured long-time Shawville 4-H market auctioneer Revel Stewart, who . . .

ran the auction for 47 years, as he watched from the sidelines.

The auction was conducted by livestock auctioneer Ab Carroll from Cookstown, Ontario, who shared his personal interactions with each of the 4-H members before each auction.

“To say that I was impressed with these 4-H members is an understatement,” said Carroll. “Every one of them I talked to certainly marketed themselves professionally and they were very knowledgeable about what took place all year. Let me tell you they did a super job and credit goes to the leaders and to their parents for raising such excellent individuals.”

The five 4-H members who sold their steers included Nick Tubman, Reese Rusenstrom, Tyson Childs, Sheena Tubman and Ben Judd.

Nick Tubman’s champion steer was first up for auction and was bought by Hayes Funeral Home for $7 pound, for a total of $9,065. Tubman said the proceeds are going towards the farm he is building.

Next up was Rusestrom’s steer Johnny Cash, which was bought by Antrim Truck Stop for $9.25 per pound, netting her $11,562. Rusestrom said she will give a portion of the funds to the Canadian Cancer Society, use a portion to expand the herd at her South Bristol Cattle Company and a portion to fund her post secondary plans in agriculture.

Steer grand champion winner Tyson Childs followed. Tyson, who was only a first year 4-H member, received $25 per pound for his steer named Ripp, for a total of $11,053, from Shawville Ford. Tyson will use a portion of the funds to help with next year’s 4-H project.

Sheena Tubman was next up with her steer Tremmer. Sheena received $7 a pound for a total of $8,015 from Logs End. She plans to reinvest the proceeds into her herd.

The last member to sell their steer was Ben Judd. Judd got $7.50 per pound for his steer for a total of $9,750 from Cyrus Beck. Judd said he plans to use the proceeds to attend the vet program at Guelph University.

The auction then moved onto the lambs. The four 4 H members who sold their award win-ing lambs included Laura Mayhew, Felix Vereyken, Mason Vereyken and Ewan Smith.

Mayhew was up first with her lamb Moonshine and received $34 per pound from Double G Farms, who subsequently donated it back to Mayhew.

Up next was Felix Vereyken who planned to buy a purebred lamb to help breed his future 4-H projects with the $29 per pound he received from Thompson Sheet Metal.

Next up was Mason Vereyken. He received $47 per pound for his lamb. He plans to use the proceeds to help pay for his post secondary education in accounting.

Ewan Smith was last up for the regular auction and he received $56 per pound for his lamb Karma.

Finally, Mayhew’s lamb Moonshine was resold. Mayhew plans to donate proceeds to Bouffe Pontiac and the Canadian Cancer Society. This time around Moonshine got $54 per pound from SNSS farms.

At the end of the auction it was announced that the SADC Pontiac was donating $5000 to the local 4-H club as a way of supporting the region’s future entrepreneurs.

Carroll ended the auction off by saying with 4-H members like these, the future of the agriculture industry in the Pontiac looked bright.

Sheena Tubman presenting her 1145 lbs steer Tremmer in front of the crowd while Phillip Holmes and Ab Carroll look on from the stand.

Felix Vereyken presented his 98 lbs lamb Ab ironically in front of the auctioneer also named Ab.

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