Plumas-Sierra Junior Livestock Auction personnel reported another great year for the hardworking youth of Plumas and Sierra counties 4-H and Future Farmers of America program, which culminated in the auction held July 30 at the Plumas-Sierra County Fairgrounds in Quincy.
“Fair time is fun time for the youth but it can be bittersweet in the end as their summer-long efforts and subsequent attachments to their animals comes to an end at the junior livestock auction,” said PSJLA treasurer Suzanne Powers. “But when the stands are full of extremely generous buyers — both individuals and business owners — who this year collectively spent a staggering $373,457 on 123 animals — it quickly seems to make it all worthwhile.”
Sale at a glance; price bumps
The 15 head of beef added $153,165 to the total, making the average price $8.08 per pound. Swine buyers paid a total of $172,758, an average price of $9.26 a pound for the 72 animals on the market. The 21 sheep averaged $11.39 per pound, adding another $31,530 to the coffers, while the 15 goats fetched a total of $16,066, averaging $14.42 a pound.
Several individuals and businesses bumped the sales prices and/or donated additional funds to the auction. For example, Indian Valley Construction donated $12,300 — that’s $100 to each exhibitor! Powers reported that other notable add-ons came from Indian Valley Butchers, Vieira Ranch, Riley’s Jerky, Jay and Michelle Skutt of Sierraville Service and Country Store, Tantardino Logging, Lindsey Buis-Kelley-LBK Engineering, Sierra Valley Feed and Ranch Supply, Dig It Construction, and the law office of Bret D. Cook. “There were many others as well,” said Powers. “Thank you for everyone who contributed additional dollars!”
Champions sale
Following are the champions sale details:
- Joey Freeto, Echo 4-H: grand champion market goat, $18 per pound, bought by Safeway
- Everett Powers, Sierra Valley 4-H: reserve champion meat goat, $19 per pound, bought by Hat Creek Construction
- Kanoa Caudle, Loyalton FFA: grand champion beef, $7 per pound, bought by Joy Engineering
- Blaine Morgan, Sierra Valley 4-H: reserve champion beef, $7 per pound, bought by Joy Engineering
- Gianna Tantardino, Indian Valley 4-H: grand champion swine, $10.50 per pound, bought by Round Valley Ag and Resort
- Piper Patterson, Indian Valley 4-H: reserve champion swine, $10.25 per pound, bought by Dig It Construction
- Justus Emsoff, Sierra Valley 4-H: grand champion sheep, $13.75 per pound, bought by George’s Custom Meats
- Faith Powers, Loyalton FFA: reserve champion sheep, $15.25 per pound, bought by Von Tour Crane and Rigging
Multiple buyers
As always, reported Powers, there were numerous multiple buyers supporting the local 4-H and FFA youth. Leading the list Sunday were Joy Engineering, Susanville Auto Center, Motorsport Tech, Outback Contractors, Bengard Ranch, Sierra Precision Painting, Les Schwab Portola, Berger Concrete, A and M Timber, Brian West, Dean and Tanya Morgan, Dig It Construction, George’s Custom Meats, Hat Creek Construction, Hunt and Sons, McGarr Excavation, Michael and Marilyn Merrill, Beatty Construction, R3 Concrete, Round Valley Ag and Resort, Sierra Nevada Construction, Sierra Pacific Industries, Veritas Mountain Medical, Von Tour Crane and Rigging, and Wilburn Construction.
Purchases donated back for resale
Several buyers donated their purchases back to be resold with the proceeds benefitting a worthy cause of their choosing, said Powers. They included Martinetti Ranch and Phebus Engineering, who donated their purchase to benefit the Martinetti Scholarship. Seven different buyers donated their purchases to benefit the Clayton Neer Memorial Fund: Charlie and Lynn Neer and Neer’s Custom Cut and Wrap, Indian Valley Construction, Berger Concrete, Cal-Sierra Title, Caleb McMillen, Outback Contractors, and Spurs Trucking and Equipment.
Youth awards
The FFA showmanship winners are as follows:
- Aubree Roen (grand champion swine) and Gus Petterson (reserve champion swine)
- Bobbi Jo Griffin (grand champion beef) and Kanoa Caudle (reserve champion beef)
- Adrian Griffin (grand champion goat) and Meilani Murer (reserve champion goat)
- Case Emsoff (grand champion sheep) and Ava Solberg (reserve champion sheep)
The 4-H senior showmanship winners are as follows:
- Juliana McMorrow (grand champion swine) and Aubrie Schramel (reserve champion swine)
- Blaine Morgan (grand champion beef) and Micah Williams (reserve champion beef)
- Kayliann Gregory (grand champion goat) and Katarina Wellise (reserve champion goat)
- Bobbi Jo Griffin (grand champion sheep) and Justus Emsoff (reserve champion sheep)
The 4-H junior showmanship winners are as follows:
- Josie Petterson (grand champion swine) and Eva Petterson (reserve champion swine)
- Kenley Neer (grand champion beef)
- Ryker Osburn (grand champion goat) and Everett Powers (reserve champion goat)
- Chloe Waltermire (grand champion sheep) and Dexter Whittier (reserve champion sheep)
The 4-H beginning showmanship winners are as follows:
- Myles Loubet (grand champion swine) and Weston Loubet (reserve champion swine)
- Addison Loubet (grand champion beef)
- Joey Freeto (grand champion goat) and Kali Winters (reserve champion goat)
- Gracie McGarr (grand champion sheep) and Sophia Rodriguez (reserve champion sheep)
Sponsors
Powers expressed gratitude for the event’s sponsors: Plumas Bank, Plumas County Sheriff’s Employee’s Association for the buyers’ breakfast, Plumas-Sierra Telecommunications, Hat Creek Construction, the law office of Bret D. Cook, Kim and Tony Folchi, Motorsport Tech, Bengard Ranch, Sierra Valley Feed and Ranch Supply, Indian Valley Construction, Safeway, Sav Mor Foods, Alpine Beverages, mcbat, Emsoff Livestock, Ozzie and Rebekah Perez, Silver State Geotechnical, and Loyalton Rotary.
Behind the scenes
“As he has successfully done for decades, auctioneer Wesley Neer did a masterful job working a very, very generous crowd of buyers that packed the sales arena that Sunday morning,” said Powers. She also mentioned her fellow livestock action committee members: Megan Neer, president; Crystal Emsoff, vice president; Tanya Morgan, secretary; Ron Wilson, livestock manager; and Susan Taylor, record keeping for all shows.
Information submitted by Plumas-Sierra Junior Livestock Auction
