Sulphur Springs FFA member, Macen Howle, parades his 1165# Reserve Champion Steer before a packed
crowd in the Hopkins County Civic Center, Saturday night, at the Sale of Champions. His steer was purchased
by Dairy Health Services, a local veterinary clinic.
Sale of Champions Nets
Approximately $200,000.00
For County Youth
by: Bobby McDonald
With the preliminary totals added, following the sale Saturday night, the NETLA Market Show and Sale netted Hopkins County Youth over $200,000.00, as local businessmen and friends "dug deep into their pockets" and rewarded a well deserving group of outstanding youth for the 2006 animal projects. "We're exstatic!" expressed a beaming Brad Johnson, President of the NETLA organization, following the sale. "We had more lots in this year's sale, due to increased participation and with the rough totals, it looks like we got record prices for the animals."
"You've got to love living in Hopkins County," expressed an interested by-stander. "When businesses and interested friends will come out and spend their hard earned money to support these youth, it makes you very, very proud to live in such a great place as this!"
Buyers at the 2006 NETLA Sale of Champions were treated to a stew and chili supper, by the Hopkins County Professional
Ag Workers Organization, as 4-H and FFA members served them.
Prior to Saturday night's sale, the Hopkins County Professional Ag Workers Organization treated buyers to a Hopkins County Stew and Chili Supper, in the Banquet Hall of the Civic Center, where 4-H and FFA members served tea, coffee, and dessert. Then, it was a standing-room only crowd that crowded into the bleachers and chairs at the Sale of Champions.
Local businessmen and women, who were buyers at Saturday night's Sale of Champions
crowded into the Civic Center Arena to purchase the animals in the record breaking sale.
The program began with Alina Tatum, Sulphur Springs FFA President, singing "The Star Spangled Banner," in a manner that sent "chills" up the spines of those in the audience, and she set the tone for the sale that followed.
Vocalist, exhibitor, and Sulphur Springs FFA President, Alina Tatum, "wowed" the crowd with her
rendition of "The Star Spangled Banner," as she opened the sale and set the pace for the bidding that followed.
Brad Johnson, President of NETLA, shakes Cayle Watson, Miller Grove FFA member's hand, as he awards him with
two showmanship bags, and a trophy belt buckle for the Reserve Grand Champion Lamb. Other winners look on
and await the awarding of their prizes.
Brad Johnson, President of NETLA and Manager of the Local Farmer's Co-op, presented trophy buckles to the Champion and Reserve Champion winners, that were sponsored by local businesses. Then, he presented the Showmanship winners with a monogramed bag, sponsored by Farmers Co-op.
The animals were "dolled-up" for the spectators, as is evidenced here with
Jennifer McDonald's be-ribboned Grand Champion Lamb.
McDonald's Lamb
was purchased for $1,900.00, by Brookshire's Food Store.
David Fowler, of Sulphur Springs Livestock, served as the initial auctioneer, and began the sale in earnest. Later, he was relieved by other volunteer auctioneers, Wade Bartley and Tanner Ragan.
Lot #1 in the sale, Grand Champion Steer, shown by Kayla Keahey, of the Sulphur Bluff FFA, was purchased by Sulphur Springs Ford, for a grand price of $5.00 per pound, which netted the young exhibitor $6,075.00, for the 1215 pound steer.
Lot #2, the Grand Champion Barrow, shown by Jake Stevens, of the Hopkins County 4-H, was purchased for $2,500.00, by Farmer's Electric Co-op. And, Brookshire's Food Store, represented by Barry Halcomb, manager, paid $1900.00, for Jennifer McDonald's Grand Champion Lamb. Jennifer was from Sulphur Bluff FFA.
Jake Stevens parades his Grand Champion Hampshire Barrow before the buyers at Saturday night's
Sale of Champions. Stevens' barrow was purchased by Farmer's Electric Co-op for $2,500.00.
Chea Townsend's Grand Champion Goat, netted the Sulphur Springs FFA member $2,400.00, when MKR Holdings was the last bidder on her animal. And, Sulphur Springs FFA member, Colby Temples, was all smiles, as his Grand Champion pen of Broilers garnered a $2,000.00 price from Farm Country and Bar H Concrete.
An excited Colby Temples enters the sale ring as he is awarded a trophy buckle for his Grand Champion
pen of Broilers in the Sale, Saturday night. Temples' broilers were purchased for $2,000.00, by Farm Country
and Bar H Concrete.
The Reserve Champion Lots followed the champions and were as follows:
Res. Steer shown by Macen Howle - $3495.00 purchased by Dairy Health Services.
Res. Barrow shown by Helena Wall - $1,950.00 purchased by Hopkins Co. Bar Association.
Res. Lamb shown by Cayle Watson - $1,400.00 purchased by Wood Co. Electric Co-op.
Res. Goat shown by Ashlea Brown - $1,750.00 purchased by Martindale Feed.
Res. Broilers shown by Cabo Sanvig - $1,550.00 purchased by Sulphur Springs Ford.
A host of other businesses both purchased animals in the sale, that sold a record 135 lots, and other supporters provided "add-on" monies to the total of individual sellers, to lend their support to the sale. As soon as all figures are completed, watch for a completed listing of all the buyers and the prices they paid for their purchases to appear in www.frontporchnews.com.
These three Sulphur Springs FFA members were smiling after they had sold lots in Saturday night's
record 2006 NETLA Sale.
Those exhibitors who sold in the 2006 Sale of Champions were all smiles, as the sale concluded at approximately 10:00 p.m. But, the work wasn't over. All animals had to be loaded-out from the Civic Center and the pens had to be torn apart, before exhibitors, parents, and teachers could leave the premises. The hour was approaching midnight, when the lights were turned out, but everyone seemed very pleased with the warm response from Hopkins County and the many, many supporters who encourage the youth of this community.
The work wasn't over for the exhibitors, parents, and teachers, when the last animal was sold. Everyone
had to stay and load animals and break-down the pens, following the sale.......
.............but, hard work is nothing new to those who exhibit livestock in the
NETLA Show. They've been doing this kind of manual labor since they purchased
their animals.
A Hearty Thanks To All Those
Who Supported Our Youth and
Purchased Animals In The Sale!
________
Veteran Miller Grove Vocational Agriculture Teacher, Richard Watson, expressed the
sentiments of all those who stayed to complete the clean-up following the show and sale, "I'm tired. My feet
hurt. And, I sure am glad it is almost a year before the 2007 Show! But, I'm eternally greatful for those who
so willingly support all of our youth. It's great to live in Hopkins County! "
