Market Livestock Sale hits another record
Dillon Jewett sold his grand champion steer to Sandry Construction for $7.75 per pound at the annual Market Livestock Sale at the Northwest Montana Fair on Saturday, Aug. 20, 2022. (Courtesy of Alicia Craft Gower)
Hayden Braaten sold his reserve champion steer to Super 1 Foods for $6 per pound at the annual Market Livestock Sale at the Northwest Montana Fair on Saturday, Aug. 20, 2022. (Courtesy of Alicia Craft Gower)
Laila Sargent sold her grand champion sheep to Lemire & Co. for $46 per pound at the annual Market Livestock Sale at the Northwest Montana Fair on Saturday, Aug. 20, 2022. (Courtesy of Alicia Craft Gower)
Halsey Middlemist sold her reserve champion lamb for $23.50 per pound to Les Schwab Center Street at the annual Market Livestock Sale at the Northwest Montana Fair on Saturday, Aug. 20, 2022. (Courtesy of Alicia Craft Gower)
Tracen McIntyre sold his grand champion hog to Les Schwab Evergreen for $11 per pound at the annual Market Livestock Sale at the Northwest Montana Fair on Saturday, Aug. 20, 2022. (Courtesy of Alicia Craft Gower)
Kylee Oedekoven sold her reserve champion hog to Trailhead Church for $14.75 per pound at the annual Market Livestock Sale at the Northwest Montana Fair on Saturday, Aug. 20, 2022. (Courtesy of Alicia Craft Gower)
The annual Market Livestock Sale at the Northwest Montana Fair hit another record this year resulting in an increase of more than $170,00 in sales over last year’s total.
A total of $967,778.75 was raised, which is an increase of $170,542.25 or about 21% over the sales total in 2021. Last year’s market sale total also marked a new record in sales.
Prior to the sale on Saturday, the Trade Center Building at the fairgrounds was buzzing with activity as local 4‐H and FFA students were busy preparing hogs, lambs, and steers for the sale. Students, instructors, organizers, volunteers, parents, and more had been working toward the sale for months. With a full return to in‐person purchasing, the stands were packed full of supporters with active bidder cards waving.
Kicking off the sale of 308 total animals, Tracen McIntyre sold his grand champion hog to Les Schwab Evergreen for $11 per pound and Kylee Oedekoven sold her reserve champion hog to Trailhead Church for $14.75 per pound. The average price per pound for hogs was $10.72 for a total of $577,645.
For sheep, Laila Sargent sold her grand champion sheep to Lemire & Co. for $46 per pound and Halsey Middlemist sold her reserve champion lamb for $23.50 per pound to Les Schwab Center Street. The average price per pound was $12.91 for a total of $91,810.75.
Wrapping up the sale, grand champion Dillon Jewett sold his 2022 grand champion steer to Sandy Construction for $7.75 per pound and reserve champion Hayden Braaten sold his steer to Super 1 Foods for $6 per pound. The average price per pound was $4.87 for a total of $298,323.
By the end of the event, a record 353 unique buyers, 98 more than in 2021, had registered for the sale.
Students who raise each animal get to keep all of the money they make from the sale and many use the money to purchase an animal for next year or start a savings account.
The annual sale has been organized by FFA, 4‐H, the Northwest Montana Fair, and the Kalispell Chamber of Commerce for over 46 years.
