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Butler County Fair

Livestock bids still big at fair, so are goodbyes

Competition breeds friendships, support, according to 4-H director

Staff photos by James McAuley

Karen Hiltbrand cries as her reserve grand champion market steer is sold Saturday, July 31, during the Junior Fair Livestock auction at the Butler County Fair.

Staff photos by James McAuley Karen Hiltbrand cries as her reserve grand champion market steer is sold Saturday, July 31, during the Junior Fair Livestock auction at the Butler County Fair.

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Staff photos by James McAuley Matthew DeBord (center), grand champion pen of meat poultry, shows his chicken during the auction.

ENLARGE PHOTO

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By Andy Sedlak, Staff Writer Updated 8:39 AM Monday, August 2, 2010

HAMILTON — The Junior Fair Livestock show capped a week of festivities Saturday, July 31, signaling the end of this year’s Butler County Fair.

“These kids have been showing all week long,” said Julie Dalzell, 4-H director. “And they all come out as friends. To me, that’s one of the coolest things about a county fair.”

This is the second year in a row the fair has held the Sale of Champions during the first hour of Saturday’s auction. The change was made last year to accommodate buyers who wanted to bid exclusively on grand champion animals.

Karen Hiltbrand’s reserve grand champion market steer was the biggest seller of the day, hauling in $5,300.

“I know it sounds weird, but some nights I’ll just go out and be with my calves,” Hiltbrand said. “I’ll miss that.”

Despite the recession, Dalzell said the bids have been consistent. This delights many who wonder if bids will dip from one year to the next.

“Every year we come into this thinking, ‘Oh my, the recession’s here and it’s going to be awful,’ ” she said. “I think our sales have been very good over the years. Bidders have come out and continue to support (the kids).”

As the dust settles behind the 160th annual fair, the event’s promoters have a chance to bask in the glow of their efforts. That is, until preparation begins on the 161st fair.

“It’s been a great fair and the weather has cooperated,” Dalzell said. “There have been a lot of smiles.”

For some fair participants, auction day the hardest part

The faces were long and the tears spoke for themselves — parting with 4-H animals can be a trying experience.

The 4-H students realize most of their animals are meat-product animals. As many 4-H students will attest, this fact is often looming in the back of their minds until the day of the livestock auction.

Taylor Darner’s steer was the Grand Market Champion. She first started taking care of her winning steer, Mac, this past September. Darner acknowledged she’ll miss Mac’s personality the most.

“He’s very possessive; he just really likes me,” Darner said. “He’s funny to watch when you let him loose in the pen. He’ll play around with my sister.”

Darner’s father took care of Mac while she was on vacation in Myrtle Beach. Other than that, Darner handled nearly all the responsibilities.

Karen Hiltbrand fought back tears as her steer was being auctioned. “I see him every day,” she said. “He’s my baby.”

Hiltbrand worked with her calves daily and took care of every aspect of her animals’ lives. This includes continually changing the steer’s name.

“He went through names because his attitude kept changing,” she said with a laugh. “Right now he’s Luther.”

David Korb’s hog earned Reserve Grand Market Champion honors. Kolb, having grown up in a 4-H family, tries to take the day in stride. He looks at the auctioning process as part of the experience.

“I hate to see them go, but at the same time that’s what they’re there for,” Kolb said. “You get used to it after a while.”

Darner and Hiltbrand may disagree. They both said the rest of their Saturday was going to be tough; Hiltbrand even said it would be “horrible.”

“I had (the steer) for 101/2 months,” Darner said. “We exercised him every morning and every night, and in the summertime we put him in an air-conditioned room so he’d grow more hair and look pretty at the fair.”

Some of their winnings will cover the costs of taking care of the animals, and some of it may end up in college funds. Still, the sting of the goodbye is not quickly forgotten.

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"Another sweet animal story but you never really want to know the outcome nor are you ever really ready for it."

Only a fool raises livestock without knowing the outcome. The kids at the fair are no fools. As for the adults trying to make them feel like fools by saying that the outcome shouldn't occur, it kinda makes you wonder who the real children are.

Farm Kids vs. City "Adults"
6:35 PM, 8/2/2010

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The girl Karen's story, and the precious picture of her and her steer made me cry. Another sweet animal story but you never really want to know the outcome nor are you ever really ready for it.
That was a picture of a girl who really loved her animal and probably regretted every bit of this part of it.

BB
6:12 PM, 8/2/2010

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Jr. Fair Sale Rules (from the handbook Note:Rule 2"Home")
1. Members may bring as many animals as they have in the past per species,
but they can only go through the sale ring two times. EXCEPTION: If a
member has more than two Grand or Reserve Grand Champion animals.
2. Before weighing animals at the Saturday weigh-in, participants must
designate what they are doing with their animal(s).
– Sale
– Packer truck
– Home
No changes can be made after designation is made.

mattgobux
2:11 PM, 8/2/2010

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Rodney--I showed sheep for 7 years at the Van Wert and Auglaize County fairs. You never HAD to send your animals to the slaughterhouse...and trust me, the year I had Reserve Champion I wish I wouldn't 'cause he'd have won some open shows. If you show a market ewe you may certainly take her home..why wouldn't you? Better stock for next year.

Steers on the other hand you don't take home. They're not goot for anything else. Sorry, I don't know anything about hogs.

Just given my 2 cents.

mattgobux
1:55 PM, 8/2/2010

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The argument you make is no more valid than the argument made about slaves. Humans are humans. Other animals and all plants are not. Certain animals serve certain functions. Plants also serve functions. It is absurd to suggest that all life is of the same function as all other life. We care for the animals that we need. We care for the plants we need. We are supposed to care for all life, but we are also supposed to continue to exist. People need to remember proper places in the world.

Ed
1:44 PM, 8/2/2010

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