ROME TOWNSHIP — Devin Guy stood in the center of the Lawrence County Fair livestock arena holding a solid white rabbit with red eyes. A smile crept across his face as he heard the bids go up and up until the animal finally sold to his grandfather, Don Guy, for $750.

“I’m really pleased,” he said. “I was figuring maybe $250 or $300.

Devin’s rabbit was just one of 110 rabbits, 22 chickens and 4 tobacco crops that sold at the small animal auction Friday night.

The event pitted politicians, business owners and others against each other in bidding wars for the animals.

Logan Reed, grand champion of the market rabbit show, got $2,200 for his rabbit.

“I’m pretty excited,” he said.

Worley’s Machine & Fab, Lawrence County Commissioner Les Boggs, Guy’s Floor Covering and State Representative candidate Terry Johnson placed the winning bid.

The 10-year-old Ironton resident said he plans to save the money, though he’ll probably buy a video game too, he said.

Megan Castle, who won reserve championship in the rabbit show, received $2,000 for her rabbit from Stephen Dale Burcham, Lawrence County Treasurer, and Rod Hadsell, a candidate for state representative.

Tiffany Wilson’s grand champion market chicken received $1,500 from Burcham and Cooke’s Farm Center.

Chicken show reserve champion Brandon Watson walked away with $1,400 from R&D Giovanni’s and Stephens & Son Insurance Agency.

‘That’s the most I ever got,” Watson said, adding that he will likely put the money toward his college education.

After the chickens came the tobacco auction.

Levi Cade, who won grand champion for his tobacco plant, received $550 from Ohio River Bank for his project. The 12-year-old Symmes Valley Elementary student has been helping raise tobacco since he was old enough to walk, his father Darrin Cade, said.

Levi said his favorite part of the fair is “getting the money.”

Carleigh Pinkerman, reserve champion in tobacco, received $300 for her project from R&D Giovanni’s.