4-H Sales

[coppertop]

As promised here are the sale averages for our local show.

Total of 42 steer projects.

Grand Champion sold for $2.60 per pound
Reserve Grand Champion....$2.90 per pound.
Over all average on all steers $2.12 per pound.

[cswilson]

Coppertop how is the shrink handled at your 4H sale-our kids first lesson is how much Nilson Bros. like to stick it to cattlemen of any age and size. We show all day Tuesday-weigh Tuesday night and then they take a three percent shrink-plus charge those kids full commission-they take about an hour to sell them after a regular cattle sale. I was at a 4H show and sale in Montana last summer-their sale weight is taken the night before the show and no pencil shrink-those calves never eat or drink much on show day-the three percent pencik is a little much-ohh well NB might buy a calf for a nickle under the market if they can lol. Guess I'm not a NB fan lol.

[coppertop]

The calves are weighed the morning of the show/sale and 3% shrink is deducted at that time. The sale catalog is printed after the show, and the sale weight is listed as well as the weight upon arrival at the show/sale so purchasers can see how the shink is factored.

I was still a leader when we started applying the 3% shrink, some of the parents blew their tops, but the kids seemed to understand, and now its just a fact they deal with every year.

They have never paid commission at this show and sale. The same family has donated their auctioneering services, clerking etc., for 40 years. All the clubs make sure the kids know just how much the commission would have been to sell their steer, and add it up after the sale to show the club members how much the auctioneers are donating each year.

The use of the facililty is paid for by the local Agricultural Society, but the 4-H Interclub has been paying truckers to haul calves to the slaughter facilities for the past ten years. They used to rely on people to donate their truck/trailers etc., but one year someone in the 4-H leadership ticked off one of the truckers and he didn't show up the following year to donate his time. After that they decided to pay a small stipend to ensure they had trucking available after the sale.

This show has turned very professional as far as classes go, including a 'Breeders Herd'. The show used to be over at 4:00 in the afternoon and the sale commenced at 6:00, now the show starts at 9:30 AM and runs until 6:00, then the sale starts at 7:00. It makes for a very long day for everyone, particularly the younger members. The buyers usually show up around 5:00 and go out to look at the steers, talk to the 4-H members etc., and have sure kept up the support for the kids.

[cswilson]

Yeah weighing after the show plus a pencil shrink is highway robbery but what do you expect. Were going to weigh our calves going in just to see how much they shrink during the show. I don't think 4H kids should get rich but they sure shouldn't get taken either-last year they were starting calves a dime under the fat market-those businessmen bidding figured that was what they were worth. All the calves are delivered to the slaughter facilities FOB for the individuals that don't resell them.This year we joined our show with our rodeo week so going to have a parade of champions at the rodeo-the kid and their calves buyer.

[coppertop]

The parade of champions sounds like an excellent way to give both the buyer and the 4-H members some exposure and may increase buyer interest next year.

The mindset here has always been to support young people involved in 4-H, and of course this being the hub of the oilfield service industry hasn't hurt .

The local farm supply dealers and veterinarians provide excellent support as do local grocery stores and the local Dodge dealer. The prices were fairly uniform from top to bottom of the sale order this year which I like to see. I hate to see one kid get an overly inflated price for their calf because DAD or GRANPA owns a big company and doesn't care how much they pay.

[cswilson]

Yeah you sure had a good sale average-our local businesses do a good job of supporting 4H too-I'd think they'd do better if the local NB guys weren't such a bunch of deadbeats. Ourselves we A'I' any 4H heifers for free and put up jackets for showmanship-one year I had to give them to my kids lol-they sure never learnt that from me lol.