Sold! — Local youth earn big bucks at TC Junior Auction

TULARE – The 2012 Tulare County Fair Junior Livestock Auction Saturday morning had FFA and 4-H students out of bed early, feeding, cleaning, and preparing their animals for the auction block.

Lindsay High’s Natalie Gutierrrez bathed her Duroc hog “Cinnamon” with help from friends Ronnie Santana and Valerie Navarro. All three students had animals in the auction.
But work with the animals began well before Saturday.

“Students have to start three months prior to showing,” said Jason Ferreira, Monache High School Agriculture Instructor. “They are responsible for picking the animal and for their daily routine feeding, cleaning and health.”

The task can be a bit easier over the summer but once the school year begins, the students need to juggle a lot, he said.

Gutierrez knew exactly what Ferreira meant.

“I have to get up every morning at 6 a.m.,” she said. “I take care of Cinnamon in the morning, and at night.”

For Ethan Standridge, 11, of Pleasant View 4-H and student at Summit Charter Collegiate Academy, Lombardi Campus, the experience was a bit magical.

Though he’s only been showing animals for two years, and he admits he was a little nervous as he entered the arena, his hog “Abracadabra” went on to win Reserve Champion 4-H Market Hog and a Showmanship title, qualifying him for Sunday’s “Round Robin” competition.

But Saturday’s accomplishment didn’t come without plenty of work.

“I spent a lot of hours, after school and on weekends, taking care of the pigs,” Standridge said.

The work paid off. His 272-poung Yorkshire hog sold for $3.75 a pound, bringing him $1,020 which he says he will use towards his next fair project.

“His mother and I are extremely proud of him,” said Rich Standridge. “He takes the initiative and spends hours working with his swine, always trying to improve.”

Though the sale began early, the top animals – Champions and Reserve Champions – were auctioned off at noon. With the top 14 animals alone bringing in $31,324.50 -- $4,410 of it from Lindsey Vieira’s 147-pound Supreme Champion Market Lamb which sold for $30 a pound.

Among the top animals were some belonging to local FFA and 4-H members.

Lot 7, had Tyson Brem’s Strathmore FFA Grand Champion Market Goat, which sold for $3.50 a pound, earning him $346.50 for his 99-pound animal.

Right behind Brem in Lot 8 was Gerardo Martinez of Lindsay FFA with his 78-pound Reserved Grand Champion Market Goat. Martinez’ boar sold for $3.50 a pound, bringing in $273.

And in Lot 14, Victoria Santoyo’s Reserve Champion 4-H Hampshire Market Lamb sold at $5 a pound, bringing her $670.

In all, 468 lots were auctioned and sold.

“The most important thing is the life skills they get by taking responsibility over another living thing. By feeding, cleaning, raising and selling, it helps them in their personal lives,” Ferreira said. “It’s important they create an understanding of the agriculture industry as youth.”

Contact Esther Avila at 784-5000, Ext. 1045. Follow her on Twitter @Avila_recorder.