Fair livestock sales brings in $380,412

The annual junior livestock sale at the Somerset County Fair on Saturday brought in $380,412 overall for 208 animals sold by youth who competed at this year's 2022 fair.

Steers averaged $2.82 per pound; goats, $7.93 per pound; lambs, $7.91 per pound; pigs averaged $6.69 per pound. Chickens were not part of this year's fair or sale because they were banned by the United States Department of Agriculture after an outbreak of Avian flu was found in Northumberland County earlier in August.

Auctioneers Bill Arnold, Kermit Stahl and Nolan Bell volunteered for the sale, which broke last year's amount of $360,850 overall for 260 animals and turned out to be successful with high sales and new buyers.

Other fair news:Somerset County Fair up and running with shows, sales and competitions

John Hemminger, who serves as sale coordinator, related afterwards that there were fewer animals this year but higher averages that brought the total amount up overall. He believes the sale takes many individuals to work together to put together this major event every year. He relates from the exhibitors and their families to the buyers to the sale committee, everyone does his or her part in making this sale a success year after year.

"This sale continues on through the community because when a business buys an animal and then donates it to a fire department or a charity, for instance, then the fire department's dinner (where the meat is prepared and served) lends itself to more community support when people come out to buy those dinners," said Hemminger. "It's good for the youth and it's good for the community."

The sale scheduled for 10 a.m. started off with the Dairy Basket. Rob Singo of Rob's Rations in New Centerville bought this year's Dairy Basket for $2,600.

Then, there were 42 steers sold for a grand total of $147,558. Lukka Hay of Friedens sold his grand champion steer for $4.50 a pound to Green Mountain Construction. Jayce McKinney of Fort Hill sold his reserve champion steer for $3.50 a pound to Andy and Brenda Ansell.

Dairy show:A Red and White holstein named 'Charity' once again wins dairy show

Then, Trace Hay, of Berlin, sold his champion homegrown steer for $3 a pound to Dively Trucking. Riley Hay, of Berlin, sold her reserve champion homegrown steer for $2.50 a pound to Riggs Family Foundation. Halee Slingluff, of Hooversville, sold her champion county bred for $2.50 a pound to J&S Construction.

Next up were 24 goats selling for a total $17,200.

Tessa Stahl, of Somerset, sold her grand champion market goat for $17 a pound to LPR Energy, while Kinley Dull, of Friedens, sold her reserve champion goat for $18 a pound to Nolan and Julia Bell.

Allison Creegan, of Hyndman, sold her champion homegrown goat for $8 a pound to Van Bremen's Heat and Air, while Noah Leyman, of Boswell, sold his reserve champion homegrown goat for $6 a pound to Alan and Vivian Lehman. Karaha Snyder, of Meyersdale, sold her reserve county bred goat for $7.50 a pound to Somerset Milling Co.

Showman:Somerset County Fair hosts Supreme Showman, Pet Parade

After goats, 42 lambs went on the auction block for a total of $42,291. Sami Hayman, of Berlin, sold her grand champion lamb for $28.50 a pound to Bartels Drilling Inc. and she sold her reserve champion county bred lamb for $8 a pound to Will's Taxi Service, while Lindsey Robertson, of Meyersdale, sold her reserve champion lamb for $30 a pound to BDH Konhaus insurance company. Caleb Antram, of Somerset, sold his champion homegrown lamb for $8.50 a pound to B.J. Maurer.

Then, 100 pigs came up for sale for a total of $173,363. Once again this year, the Pennsylvania Department of Agriculture regulations were in effect in response to the African Swine Fever, requiring that all swine being exhibited go directly to slaughter afterwards in order to protect state swine exhibitors and the health of all swine.

Lukka Hay, of Friedens, sold his grand champion swine for $11.50 a pound to LPR Energy and he sold his reserve champion swine for $10 a pound to Memorial Highway Chevrolet.

Christopher Engle, of Meyersdale, sold the champion homegrown pig for $5.25 a pound to Espy Meats, while his cousin Maddie Engle sold her reserve champion homegrown swine for $4.50 a pound to Riggs Family Foundation.

Emiliano Padilla, of Somerset, sold his champion county bred pig for $6.50 a pound to Van Bremen's Heat and Air, while Emily Hutchison, of Rockwood, sold her reserve county bred swine for $5 a pound to Suter's Beverage.

This year's premier buyer was B.J. Maurer Ford, of Boswell.

This article originally appeared on The Daily American: Fair livestock sale brings in $380,412