Market movers: Kids let go of their hogs, lambs, steers

It was a real zoo Saturday morning in the new livestock pavilion at the Northwest Montana Fair.

It was hogs, lambs and steers. It was 4-H and Future Farmers of America. And, most important of all, it was the young people who'd raised these animals, their proud parents and any number of interested buyers all milling around on the sawdust floor waiting for the annual market stock auction to begin.

Maddie Matelli, owner of the 1,375-pound Roscoe, had taken top honors in the steer department Thursday. She said she'd bought Roscoe for about $700 and figured she'd more than likely make a profit on him.

"I was kind of surprised to win," she said. "I'd picked him out originally because he seemed level-headed - like he wouldn't flip out on me. The one thing I didn't need in my life was a crazy steer.

"He's really playful and I'll miss him a lot," the Flathead High School junior said. "I guess I'll have to wear sunglasses for a while after I sell him."

Matelli was planning on spending part of her sale money on buying next year's animal.

There was no shortage of kids to be seen walking their animals. One young man was getting danced around the room by his steer and another youth was with an especially stylish lamb who was wearing a faded FedEx t-shirt.

The exhibitors themselves were mostly wearing white dress-shirts - some even had ties -and many of them had on the familiar FFA corduroy jean jackets.

According to Karole Summerfield, Flathead County Extension Agent in charge of 4-H, "Today is what all the kids have been waiting for - this is what they've done all their hard work for."

Maria Marvin, a 4-H volunteer, said that local membership has increased 15 percent this year.

4-H member Libbie Anderson was selling her lamb, Belle.

"I raised her parents and I was there when she was born," Anderson said. "It's really good experience because it helps you learn responsibility. I'm nervous about the outcome - what the buyers will think of her. I'm hopeful she'll do well because she's my lamb.

Anderson's father, Kim, agrees. "If she doesn't do the work, it doesn't get done. All our older kids were 4-H because it offers so many opportunities for them to learn."

The auction started promptly at 8:30. There was one auctioneer per livestock category.

And then there were the three ringmen in their straw cowboy hats, each of them facing an area of the bleachers and ready to point their rolled-up programs at anyone even thinking about making a bid.

"This is a fun game," the auctioneer said. "Just wave to your friends across the way - it's really easy. Pretty soon you'll be owning an animal."

The hogs were up first - all 135 of them. Mostly they were not very patient. There was a lot of squealing and even a few lightweight arguments. Youthful owners petted their animals and many kept brushing them throughout the bidding.

One thing was absolutely consistent across all categories of owner: the longer the bidding, the bigger the grins.

Someone else who was grinning was Flathead Food Bank office manager, Lori Botkin. Many bidders donated their animal purchases - processing included - to her organization.

"We received 18 hogs, two cows and six lambs," she said. "But that's just preliminary. This is totally awesome because this community is so supportive of the food bank. Today's gifts will help us get through Christmas and maybe even through the first quarter of next year. We're very thankful."

Several other social service groups were recipients as well.

Glacier Bank donated several animals to community organizations. "We are an aware community here," said bank president Bob Nystuen. "We realize that people need this food."

It was the kind of rural auction where everyone in the crowd ended up knowing at least a few of the bidders. You either bought your utilities from them, got your broken bones set by them, or put your money in their care.

Following 35 years of tradition, nobody was surprised when Gordon Pirie bought the grand champion lamb. No one expected it to go to anyone other than him.

The auctioneer reminded everyone several times during the sale that this was the "best place to invest in the future of your youth."

And yes, it was also good business for the future agricultural entrepreneurs. But sometimes it wasn't all that easy to let go of a friend.

"I'll keep Roscoe tonite and give him a bath," Matelli said. "If he were a mean steer, it wouldn't be too hard to let him go. But I really like Roscoe.