ROME TOWNSHIP –– Bidders from throughout the county packed the barn area of the Lawrence County Fair for the large animal auction, featuring the market steers, market lambs, market goats and market hogs.

“I enjoy coming out to the fair and supporting the kids every year,” Patrick Leighty, Lawrence County Engineer, said. “I usually bid in both the small and large sales.”

Market steers kicked the auction off with grand champion winner Matison Klaiber, of the Starlite 4-H club, showing off her 1,271-pound animal.

The winning bid came in at $5.50 per pound, totaling $6,990.50 from buyers Mike Finley, of G and G Properties, Bret Guy, of Guy’s Floor Covering, Randy Lambert, of the Lawrence County Fair Board and Lambert Law Office, Terry Taylor, of Citizens Deposit Bank, Matt Klaiber, of Blue Grass Maysville Stockyard, and Rich Donohue, of Rax in Ironton.

Another Starlite 4-Her, Markie Norris, was the 2016 market steer reserve champion, showing off his steer of 1,302 lbs. The winning bid came in at $4.35 per pound, totaling $5,663.70, by Heidi and Scott Clark, of Spice of Life Catering in Coal Grove.

Market lambs followed up the steers with grand champion Ethan Cade, of the Starlite 4-H club, showing off his 133-pound lamb to bidders.

Morgan Saunders, of Holzer Health Systems, was the top bidder at $11 per pound, totaling $1,463.

Next, reserve market lamb champion Jacob Cade, also of the Starlite 4-H club, brought his lamb of 136 lbs. to the show area for bidders.

The winning bid came in at $10 per pound, totaling $1,360 by Dr. Joe Leith.

Following the lambs, market goats took the spotlight with market goat grand champion Devin Litteral, of the Willow Wood Wranglers 4-H club, showing off his goat of 84 lbs.

The goat received a bid of $12 per pound, totaling $1,008, from buyers Patrick Leighty, Christopher Collins, county commission candidate, Jason Stephens, Lawrence County Auditor, and Lambert.

Savannah Martin, of the Arabia All-Stars 4-H club, was the reserve market goat champion, and received a winning bid of $10 per pound for her 86-pound goat, totaling $860. The buyers were David Bennett and Sabrina Watson, of Chesapeake Auto Center, Stephen Burcham, Lawrence County Treasurer, Mark McCown, Ironton attorney, and county commission candidates DeAnna Holliday and Doug Malone.

Rounding out the auction were the market hogs, where grand champion Meredith Humphreys, of the Starlite 4-H club, showed off her winning 269-pound hog to bidders.

The winning bid came in at $12.50 per pound, totaling $3,362.50 from buyers Bennett, Watson, Burcham, Malone, Holliday and Joe McMaster, of Collins Career Center.

Reserve market hog champion Hunter Humphreys also received $12.50 per pound for a winning bid on his 244-pound hog, totaling $3,050. Buyers for the reserve champion hog were Collins, Leighty, Finley and Stephens.

“It’s all about the kids,” Collins said. “These are some of the best kids in Lawrence County, and 4-H instills great values in the kids and teaches them the right things. It’s been a great week.”

Lawrence County treasurer Stephen Burcham said he enjoys helping the kids out through the auction each year.

“A lot of the kids spend a lot of time with these animals, and it’s a lot of work in addition to school and other things,” he said. “This is a reward for them. Most of the kids will use the money for a college fund, and I’m glad to help kids that are looking to forward their education.”

DeAnna Holliday said she feels the same way.

“My favorite part is investing in the kids,” she said. “A lot of the kids have told me that they use the money for college. It’s all about the kids and investing in their futures.”