Mourning family receives support from buyers

 

ROME TOWNSHIP — The final day of the Lawrence County fair was reserved for the large animal auction, however the selling of animals took a backseat to the generosity of the fairgoers.

Jenna Malone, of Country Clan 4-H club, competed in the market hog competition earlier this week. Friday night, Malone’s father passed away and suddenly an event that should have represented joy and fun was marred by sadness.

During Saturday’s auction officials for the Lawrence County Fair asked any audience members willing to make a $50 donation to Malone’s family to raise their bidder cards. Immediately, cards from all over the show arena were raised, pledging donations.

“We had 56 people raise their cards to donate,” Lawrence County Fair Board President Randy Lambert said. “We had a few more people donate who didn’t have bidder cards and in total we raised over $3,000 for the Malone family.”

Jenna Malone sobbed heavily, her emotions pouring out in her expressions as her mother took her out of the show arena and toward the family camper.

“It’s tragic to lose a parent,” Lambert said. “Jenna’s mom told me there was no way they could come thank everyone so they sent me up her to the podium to thank everyone for their tremendous generosity. It is appreciated.”

As for the auction itself, the grand champions took home the top price in each category with Ashton McMackin’s winning market steer pulling in the highest price tag of the day as it sold for $4,976. Luke Humphreys’ top ranked hog fetched $11 a pound totaling nearly $3,000 for the 270 pound pig.

While the money is nice, Humphreys said the idea of selling the animals was something he had to adjust to.

“My first year of showing I cried and everything over having to do the sale,” he said. “It was really hard, you spend a lot of time with them and you bond with them. I didn’t really understand that at the end you were going to sell them. But, now I’ve been doing it a few years and you get used to it. I don’t even think about it now.”

The grand champion goat, owned by Dylan Back, went for $1,328 and Robert Rowe’s winning lamb pulled in $1,950.

Morgan Klaiber, whose reserve champion lamb went for $1,820, said she was going to use the money to buy clothes and supplies for school.

“I’m going to use it for school clothes, and other things I need for the start of school,” she said. “Whatever I have left I’m going to take and put toward lambs for next year’s fair competition.”