Lawrence County Fair comes to end with the sale of animals

ROME TOWNSHIP— Saturday was the final day of the Lawrence County Fair, which also meant that it was the day all the animals were auctioned off to the highest bidders in support of the county 4-H kids who raised them.

“It’s good for our local businesses to support our youth by purchasing the 4-H projects at the fair because it provides a reward for those kids who have invested a lot of time in the project,” Lawrence County Commission President Bill Pratt said.” Much of the time the 4-Hers will turn right around and invest back into the local businesses by purchasing their school clothes and supplies, or even a car if they’ve saved their money over the course of a few years.”

This year’s auction was named the Don Lambert Livestock Sale 2017, in honor of the former Lawrence County commissioner, Rock Hill and Lawrence County Board of Education member, Lawrence County General Hospital Board member and Lawrence County Central Committeeman, as well as being known for his passion for farming and being very involved with the Lawrence County Fair, who died earlier this year. His son, Randy Lambert, serves as the president of the fair board.

The first animal auctioned off were the lambs, with grand champion Hayley Pancake, of the Symmes Valley FFA 4-H club, bringing her 143-pound animal to the show area for bidders.

The winning bid came in at $10 a pound by Rich Donohue, Chris Donohue and Cameron Donohue, of Rax of Ironton and Central Hardware.

The reserve champion, Tori Pancake, of the Starlite 4-H club, followed by bringing her 134-pound lamb out for bidders, with the winning bid coming in at $12 a pound by the Lawrence County Democratic party; county treasurer Stephen Burcham, county commissioner DeAnna Holliday, county clerk of courts Mike Patterson, common pleas judge Andy Ballard, county municipal judge Donald Capper and attorney and Ironton Municipal Court Judge candidate Mark McCown.

Market goats followed the lambs, with grand champion market goat winner Lauren Wells, of the Willow Wood Wranglers 4-H club, showing off her 92-pound animal.

The winning bid went to Riverside Recovery Services for $52 a pound, with executive director Amy Smart representing.
Market goat reserve champion winner Garrett Daniels, of the Gingham and Denim 4-H club, followed Wells with his 85-pound goat, which sold for $29 a pound to Proctorville Kroger, with store manager Steve Gandee representing.

The next animal auctioned were the hogs, with grand champion winner Kara Saunders, of the Starlite 4-H club, kicking off the hog sale. Her 276-pound hog sold for $13 a pound to several individuals and businesses, including Lawrence County Engineer Patrick Leighty, State Rep. Ryan Smith, R-93, county commissioner DeAnna Holliday and her husband, Shawn Holliday, county municipal judge Donald Capper, Riverside Recovery Services, Glockner South Point Ford, Guy’s Floor Covering, Randy Lambert Law, Citizens Deposit Bank, county commissioner Freddie Hayes Jr., county clerk of courts Mike Patterson and county common pleas judge Andy Ballard.

The bid of $13 a pound totaled $3,588, however, afterward it was announced that the bidders agreed to go up to an even $4,000.

The next hog shown was that of reserve champion Jason Lewis, of the Willow Wood Wranglers 4-H club, which also totaled 276 pounds.

The winning bid for the reserve champion came in at $12 a pound by Riverside Recovery Services, Chesapeake Auto Center and Jim’s Termite Pest Control.

The last animal auctioned in the large sale were the steers. Grand champion steer winner Matison Klaiber showed off her 1,385-pound steer in the show area for bidders, with the winning bid coming in at $5 a pound by county commissioner DeAnna Holliday and her husband, Shawn, county commissioner Freddie Hayes Jr., county treasurer Stephen Burcham, Guy’s Floor Covering, Rax of Ironton, Central Hardware, Citizens Deposit Bank, Randy Lambert Law, Riverside Recovery Services, McDonald’s of Ironton, Chesapeake and Proctorville, Jim’s Termite Pest Control and Muskingum Livestock.

Reserve champion steer winner Maddy Calaway, of the Symmes Valley FFA 4-H club, followed Klaiber with her 1,355-pound steer, which sold for $4.50 a pound by county commissioner Freddie Hayes Jr., Glockner South Point Ford, Rax of Ironton, Central Hardware and Guy’s Floor Covering.

Commissioner DeAnna Holliday said it’s very important to her to support the 4-H kids through the fair auction.

“Supporting the kids of 4-H allows me to invest in their future and the future of Lawrence County because I believe they are the future leaders of this county,” she said. “I spend the week getting to know them and understanding the goals they have in their lives. I try to support them more than financially. I want them to know how great they are and how their accomplishments and hard work can lead them to a bright future. I encourage them every way that I can.”