HONESDALE, PA — On August 12, at the Wayne County Fairgrounds, supporters of 4-H and Future Farmers of America (FFA) gathered for the Junior Livestock Sale.

The sale tallied $585,129.20 in support of the young members’ livestock projects. 

This year’s Wayne County 4-H and FFA Livestock Sale saw 353 market steers, hogs, lambs, goats and a pen of market meat rabbits cross the auction block. 

The resale of buy-backs—when a successful bid is returned for resale—ensured scholarships for the coming year, with a $25,963.55 jump start toward next year’s fund. 

Jason Vass, who exhibited the Grand Champion Market Steer, is pictured with Makayla, Matthew and John Stone for Grimm Construction...

At the sale

Prior to the start, 4-H and FFA members marched into the arena and recited both the 4-H pledge and the FFA pledge. Mackenzie Weist, a 4-H member, led the crowd in the singing of the national anthem while Michaela Lopatofsky signed the lyrics. 

Nine 4-H and FFA Livestock Scholarship recipients were introduced; the young people will seek higher education or enter agribusiness in the coming year. See “Scholarships make a difference,” box at upper right.

Scholarships of $2,000 each were awarded to Nicholas Bonham, Eilie Burleigh, Carley Fries, Charles Moran, Eoghan Murphy, Jordyn Noble, Laynee Nugent, Gabrielle Rydzik and Mackenzie Weist. 

The first animal offered for sale was Brooke Kellogg’s 259-pound Grand Champion Market Hog. Brooke is a member of the Pleasant Mount Go-Getters 4-H Club. Brooke also earned Supreme Champion Showmanship honors in the Ultimate Showmanship competition. Roger Dirlam of Dirlam Brothers Lumber Company successfully bid the hog to $37/pound. 

Dirlam initiated the wave of donations for the scholarship fund by returning this champion for resale for the benefit of the fund. 

The 270-pound Reserve Grand Champion Market Hog was sold by Levi Martin. He is a member of the Creamton Area 4-H Club.  The winning bid of $22/pound was placed by Mike Cavage of Pioneer Construction.  

The 139-pound Grand Champion Market Lamb was raised by Laynee Nugent. Laynee is a member of the Waymart Horizons 4-H Club. Cavage bid this champion to $40/lb.

Brooke Kellogg raised the 137-pound Reserve Grand Champion Market Lamb. Brooke is a member of the Pleasant Mount Go-Getters 4-H Club. Cavage bought this animal for $19/pound. Olivia Jonas exhibited the 85-pound Grand Champion Market Meat Goat. Olivia is a member of the Pleasant Mount Go-Getters 4-H Club. Earl Marshall of Marshall Machinery successfully bid $50/pound to purchase this champion. Olivia was Grand Champion Showman of market meat goats. 

Sarah Collins won Reserve Grand Champion Market Meat Goat honors with her 69-pound market meat goat. Sarah is a member of the Waymart Horizons 4-H Club. Cavage bid this champion to $22/pound.   

Jason Vass’ 1,430-pound Grand Champion Market Steer was purchased by Rob Grimm of Grimm Construction for $9.25/pound. Jason is a member of the Achievers 4-H Club, and he was Grand Champion showman of the beef showmanship competition. This steer was also judged Grand Champion Market Steer in the homebred competition.

Hailey Wasman exhibited the 1,240-pound Reserve Grand Champion Market Steer. The steer was successfully bid to $4/pound by Grant Stiles. Hailey is a member of the Achievers 4-H Club. 

Showing Grand and Reserve Grand Champion Grass-Fed Market Steers were Mia and Emily Eccles of the Pleasant Mount Go-Getters 4-H Club. Buyers of these market steers were Thomas Eccles, bidding $3/pound for the Grand Champion, and John Keating, who bid $2.50/pound for the Reserve Grand Champion.  

One pen of market meat rabbits was also sold at auction. Cadence Kretschmer sold her Grand Champion pen to Dr. Emily Lantzsch of Horse and Hound Integrative Animal Solutions for $1,250. Cadence is a member of the Cherry Ridge 4-H Club. 

Cavage outbid all other buyers at the sale, spending over $70,000 on market animals. 

Following Pioneer was Cargill Meat Solutions, spending nearly $57,000 on livestock. 

In the $30,000 to $20,000 range again this year were Rob Grimm of Grimm Construction, John Thorpe of Waymart Milling Company and Kyle Salvatore of Delaware Valley Farm and Garden.

Other significant buyers, in order of buying power

$16,000 down to $10,000: Adam Henning for Narrowsburg Feed and Grain Co.; Roger Dirlam for Dirlam Brothers Lumber and Wanda Jurgeson for Top Notch Distributors

Under $10,000 to $7,000: Nick Shursky Companies; Michael Sheruda’s Heavy Equipment and Trailer Sales and Down to Earth Equipment Rentals; Gary Linde for Leeward Construction; Grant Stiles for Jen Rutledge Materials; Dan Rutledge Excavating and Cameron Grossman Farms

Under $7,000 down to $5,000: Earl Marshall for Marshall Machinery; Jason Maciejewski Landscaping; Niedzielski Royal Davico Inc.; Michael Kowalewski, Ron Scull for RTS Truck Center and Valley Sand and Gravel and Dr. Andrew Nebzydoski for Wallenpaupack Veterinary Clinic.

Under $5,000 down to $3,500: Andrew Diehl for Diehl Trucking Inc.; Ben Komar for Komar Farm and Meats; Paul Simyan for Paul’s Custom Butchering; Mark Olver for Dexter Construction Co.; Eric Goldstein for G5 Insurance; Lee Rowan for Olsommer-Clark Insurance; Charles Keating for Mt. Cobb Farm; Tim Schweighofer for Honesdale Spreading Service; Dennis Nearing for Cochecton Mills Inc.; Wayne County Ford, Robert Non for Pleasant Mount Welding Inc.; Jim Tamblyn for Case Tire Service Inc.; Medico Construction and Equipment; Hugh Irwin for Dyberry Sand and Gravel Co.; Thomas Eccles; and Luke Turano Insurance and Financial Services

Under $3,500 to $2,000: Ed Hook Well Drilling; Tim Meagher Remax of Wayne County; Rusty Palmer Inc.; Lopatofsky Auction LLC; Wayne Bank; Thomas Sutula; William Case Contracting; The Dime Bank; John Keating Small Creek Farm; Dr. Robyn Terrel of Wandering Trails Veterinary Care; Josh Schweighofer of Honesdale Agway; Joe Aleckna Farms; Chris Hegge of Northeast Firearms; The Honesdale National Bank; Brian Schrig of  LaPlume Custom  Meats; Henderson and Sons Inc., Ellis Law Group; Burleigh Construction Inc., Wilmot Excavating and Blacktop; Fred Diehl Blue Stone Environmental Inc.; Karen and Dr. John Burlein; Beck, Gogolski and Co.; Boyce Products; RDR Trucking; Jeffrey Gardas; Edward Grossman Construction;Scott Zablocky Excavating and Roy Morris for Narrowsburg Feed and Grain Co.

Under $2,000 down to $1,500: James Bronson’s Builders; Vernon and Sarah Hiller of Finally Able Farm; Frank Bonham Excavating, Dr. Thomas Nebzydoski of Carbondale Veterinary Hospital; John Cavanaugh for Central Clay and Hesten Grossman for Adam Kays Trucking.