Jackson County junior livestock auctions produced a record of more than $2.8 million in sales this year.

Two events are held, one during the Jackson County Fair and another in June.

Young people in either 4-H or Future Farmers of America programs take part in the sales, spending months raising their animals, then preparing them for auction.

“Last year and the year before, we were over $2 million, but nowhere near where we are this year,” said John Dimick, who is on the auction committee and works in the sales ring.

“I think we had a few more animals. And the prices, the average per species, were up,” said Dimick. “I think we are just blessed to have a community here that believes in these kids and steps up and supports them.”

Businesses step up at auction timeSales lists from the auction show that numerous local businesses, both big and small, support the sale by bidding on the animals.

“In pioneer times, there was a remarkable man who lived here, Floyd Charley. Perhaps it was Floyd Charley that “taught” business here to support the community, as today it is almost a rite of passage,” said JB Dimick, chair of the Jackson County Fair Board. “Jackson County business supports the fair and particularly the fair junior livestock auction.”

“Those buyers are supporting the future leaders of this community. The hope is they attend college and become the leaders,” said JB Dimick.

“We have new people who come every year and want to be involved. We get new ones and old standbys that are here every year. It’s kind of a fun thing to see,” said John Dimick.

Sophie’s turkey took the top spot“As our prices have come up, the kids have been more focused on getting higher-quality animals and doing a better job of feeding them,” said John Dimick, who taught agriculture for eight years at Phoenix High School and then for 25 years at Crater High School.

Jackson County Junior Livestock Auction Inc. holds two sales per year. The spring sale, in June, is for lambs, goats and rabbits. During the fair in July, the swine sale takes place on Wednesday and the steer and poultry sale is on Saturday.

The top price per pound this year was bid for a turkey raised by Sophie Grow. She received $200 per pound for the 28-pound bird, which was the Overall Grand Champion in market poultry.

In the steer category, Paislie Kane’s 1,360-pound animal, the Grand Champion and 4-H Champion, sold for $25 per pound. Emmett Leonardo’s 1,260-pound Reserve Grand Champion and Reserve 4-H Champion brought $28 per pound.

Steer prices ranged from $5.50 up to $30 per pound. There were 180 lots in the auction for both swine and poultry, some with more than one animal.

In the swine category, Resse Westlake’s 273-pound Grand Champion and 4-H Champion animal brought a bid of $54 per pound. Jaxon Neuenschwander’s Reserve Grand Champion and Reserve 4-H Champion weighed 270 pounds and brought a bid of $82 per pound. Mason Coniff’s 242-pound swine was the FFA champion and got a bid of $68 per pound.

Swine ranged in prices from lows of $7 per pound up to $82 per pound. There were 150 swine lots, some with two animals.

Evy Leonardo’s Grand Champion and Champion FFA 132-pound lamb was sold for $30 per pound. Ava Smith’s Grand Champion and 4-H Champion 72-pound market goat sold for $75 per pound. The Grand Champion and 4-H Grand Champion rabbit, raised by Zachary Byrd, weighed 20.6 pounds and brought a bid of $60 per pound. The spring auction had 182 lots, some with more than one animal.

Some businesses offer support to the young entrepreneurs in more ways than just livestock purchases. The Olsrud Foundation supplied two $5,000 scholarships, a tradition it has done for years. New this year, the Cow Creek Tribe Foundation awarded two $7,500 scholarships, John Dimick reported.

Agriculture programs are conducted at Crater, Eagle Point, Phoenix, Prospect and Rogue River high schools. All the schools have FFA Chapters. Jackson County enrollment in FFA and 4-H programs is the third highest in Oregon, exceeded only by Washington and Clackamas counties.

The Jackson County events produced the highest price per pound of any junior auction west of the Rocky Mountains, said JB Dimick. The Kern County junior auction in California has more sale lots, but at lower prices, he said.

Participants can sell two animals per year, one in the large animal categories of swine and steers, and another in the small animal group including poultry, sheep, rabbits and goats.

Working for the futureProceeds are used by youths as seed money for livestock they will raise, for college expenses or other purposes.

JB Dimick learned of the entrepreneurial drive of one seller after he purchased a swine raised by Brendon Van Wart of Eagle Point. Brendon came by Dimick’s office to thank him for the purchase.

When asked what he would use the funds for, Brendon replied he would buy more vending machines. Dimick found out that Van Wart refurbishes old vending machines, then places them at construction sites and keeps them stocked. He presently has six vending sites and wants to grow to 20.

“Last year and the year before, we were over $2 million, but nowhere near where we are this year.”

— John Dimick, auction committee member

The Olsrud Foundation supplied two $5,000 scholarships, a tradition it has done for years. New this year, the Cow Creek Tribe Foundation awarded two $7,500 scholarships