Roosevelt livestock sale stays lively

The crowds clapped and cheered as youth ranging from 9 to 17 led their various livestock into the pen. Rumors of "geese laying golden eggs" and steers being sold as high as $16,000 kept this year's Roosevelt County Junior Livestock Sale lively as ever.

The sale raised $220,550 before add-ons between 54 of the 4-H and FFA youth, organizers said. Add-ons are donations made after the sale. Last year, they came to $76,065, according to Joy Levacy, junior livestock sale secretary for the fair.

"It's for the youth of Roosevelt County who are in agriculture ... So the community support is very much appreciated," Levacy said.

Greg Smith, chairman of the Roosevelt County Junior Livestock Sale, said he was impressed by the amount of community members who came out to support the hard work each of the children put into the sale. Smith added he hopes sales could surpass last year's total of $278,315.70 after add-ons.

The sale kicked off as 17-year-old Savanna Bricker, member of Elida FFA, took the largest prize of the night with $16,000 for her grand champion steer Curious George. Bricker said George has a big heart and loves to get his nose into everything he can set his eyes on.

Bricker said this was her last year performing in the Junior Livestock Show, after competing since 2017. She said she was saddened to leave the community, but knew she would continue her path in livestock competition as an adult when she goes off to college.

The grand champion said she traditionally uses her earnings to buy another steer, but this year she will be getting herself a ranch versatility horse to show at college.

"It's a lot of hard work and responsibility to even show and own one of these (livestock)," Bricker said. "And I couldn't have done it without my parents and my steer breeders. I fell in love with it at a young age."

Isaiah Eaton, who participated in Generations 4-H for the first time this year, was ecstatic to mark his first sale with his goose Goldie. Goldie was sold for $2,200 as second-place fancy bird in Friday night's sale.

Eaton joked with the announcers of the event that Goldie could lay a golden egg to help bolster bids on the goose. The 9-year-old smiled ear to ear as he presented with pride. He said he plans using the money to either buy a horse or a go kart.

As the event drew to a close, each child got to make a sale. Smith said the show gives the kids an opportunity to show all the work they've put in for the past year or two and he can't wait to see them again for next year's show.