Junior Livestock auction brings nearly $200,000

Buyers at the August 13 Junior Livestock Auction spent nearly $200,000 to purchase livestock raised by local youth.
In total, 118 animals were sold at the annual auction, which provides the culmination of the annual San Juan County Fair.
The total includes six goats, 24 lambs, 56 hogs and 32 steers. Of that total, there were 15 hogs and six lambs sold by mini livestock growers.
The actual auction brought $171,681 in purchases, and when you add $19,427 in add-ons and contributions, the amount of money contributed to local youth totals $191,108.
There were 74 individual buyers, in addition to 64 add-ons and 24 contributions.
An operation of such a scale requires the donations of a wide range of groups, in addition to the volunteer contributions of organizers.
Jeremy Redd, who serves as secretary of the Junior Livestock organization, said he is always amazed at the generosity of the buyers.
“It is amazing,” said Redd. “If you look at the list of buyers and donors, they are almost all local people. It is not large corporations making the purchases, it is the local people who make up our communities.”
The add-ons come from a variety of donors, including family, friends and supporters. In addition, many of the add-ons help ensure that prices are high for the growers. Because of add-ons, none of the hogs sold for less than $700 and none of the steers sold for less than $3,000.
The grand champion steer was raised by Alyssa Reeve and was purchased by Sonderegger Inc. for $3,465.
The grand champion hog, raised by Mason Atwood, was purchased by Sonderegger Inc. for $1,054.
The grand champion lamb, raised by Jordyn Moon, was purchased by Basin Coop for $527.
The grand champion goat, raised by Alison Barry, was purchased by Montezuma Hearing for $754.
The grand champion mini lamb was raised by Jerzy Moon and purchased by Merlin Grover for $504.
The grand champion mini hog was raised by Peyton Pehrson and purchased by Brooke Pehrson Photography for $798.