Youth Market Animals Fetch Good Prices in Tough Times

Chris Torres
Staff Writer

HARRISBURG, Pa. — Considering the doldrums the economy has been in over the last year or so makes it surprising that a goat broke a record at the Farm Show junior livestock sale Tuesday.

But considering the owner of the goat comes from a small town called Prosperity, maybe it was just meant to be.

The 89-pound grand champion goat, shown by Courtney Cowden, fetched $4,100 at the sale. The animal was bought by a trio of buyers from Lebanon County — Fulton Bank, Bell and Evans Poultry, and Lebanon Valley Auction Company.

The previous record for a goat was set just last year, when Jeremy Mock’s grand champion sold for $3,300 to New Holland Sales Stables.

While the goat was the only grand champion to set a new record, it seemed buyers were willing to spend more money at this year’s show.

The grand and reserve champions in this year’s show sold for a total of $44,900, a 37-percent increase over last year.

The entire sale, which lasted several hours and included 428 animals, grossed $277,740. One percent of the gross sales receipts are donated to the Farm Show Scholarship Program.

Bryce Fitzgerald’s grand champion steer sold for $15,000 to Hoss’s Steak and Sea House. The reserve champion, owned by Claudia Hissong, sold for $7,000 to Quality Greenhouses & Perennial Farms and Fulton Bank.

Hatfield Quality Meats bought this year’s grand champion swine from Hannah Rohrer of Somerset, Pa. The 267-pound animal sold for $5,800. The reserve champion, shown by Sean Gallagher of New Alexandria, Pa., sold for $3,500 to Bell and Evans Poultry.

This year’s grand champion lamb, shown by Garrett Keith of Clymer, Pa., sold for $4,900 to Alpine Building and Post Supply. The reserve champion, shown by Delaney Carey of Montoursville, Pa., sold for $2,200 to New Holland Sales Stables.

The reserve champion goat, shown by Ashley Marshall of Creekside, Pa., sold for $2,400 to Westfield Insurance.