Fair's livestock auction tops half million again!

The 2018 Northwest Montana Fair and Rodeo market stock sale grossed $562,218 Saturday as local 4-H and FFA members said goodbye to their steers, hogs and lambs.

This year’s stock sale grossed nearly $47,128 more than last year’s sale and it was the second straight year the sale was more than a half-million dollars.

Beef sold for an average of $3.76 per pound, up 26 cents per pound from last year. Hogs sold for an average of $6.96 per pound, down $.20 per pound from last year. Lambs sold for an average of $9.51, up $.35 per pound from last year.

This year’s champion animals are as follows:

The Champion Market Beef was raised by Garrett Jewett of Kalispell and purchased by Montana Helical Piers for $8,731. The animal weighed 1,397 pounds and sold for $6.25 per pound.

The Reserve Champion Market Beef was raised by Hayden Hansen of Kalispell and purchased by Dr. Al Olszewski for $7,562.50. The animal weighed 1,375 pounds and sold for $5.50 per pound.

The Champion Market Hog was raised by Dillon Jewett of Kalispell and purchased by Les Schwab Tires for $3,151. The hog weighed 274 pounds and sold for $11.50 per pound.

The Reserve Champion Market Hog was raised by Morgan Baker of Kalispell and purchased by Vertical Iron Works for $3,066.75. The hog weighed 261 pounds and sold for $11.75 per pound.

The Champion Market Lamb was raised by Bailey Lake of Kalispell for the second straight year and purchased by the McDonalds-Jahnke family for $2,052. The lamb weighed 144 pounds and sold for $14.25 per pound.

The Reserve Champion Market Lamb was raised by Amber Pugh of Whitefish once again and was purchased by Les Schwab Tires in Whitefish for $1,460. The lamb weighed 140 pounds and sold for $14 per pound.

The stock sale is sponsored by the Kalispell Chamber of Commerce’s Agribusiness Committee.

Reporter Scott Shindledecker may be reached at 758-4441 or sshindledecker@dailyinterlake.com.