One of the defining events of county fairs are the livestock premium auctions.
Buyers came together at the Antelope County Fair on Saturday. At the Wheeler County Fair, the auction was held Sunday afternoon.
At Neligh, each livestock exhibitor may sell just one market animal. The highest bid for an animal in any class cannot exceed the premium bid for the champion. Auctioneers were Ted Baum and Corey Curtis. They were assisted by members of the Elgin FFA Chapter who were sale clerks. Altogether, more than $18,000 was spent by businesses in support of the premium sale.
The highest amount paid at the auction was $800 for the champion market steer, champion and reserve champion market lamb, and the champion and reserve champion market goat.
At Bartlett, more than $31,000 was spent by businesses in support of the efforts of local 4-Hers.
Champions purchased at the county fairs were:
Antelope County Premium Sale
Grand Champion Market Steer — Sapp Bros/Precision Repair/Jonny Dodge/Terry Jensen D.D.S./Wanek Pharmacy/Elgin Appliance/CVA-Brunswick/Dean’s Market
Reserve Champion Market Steer — Oral Surgery Center-Norfolk
Reserve Champion Market Heifer — Royal One Stop
Grand Champion Bucket Calf — Koenig Inc.
Reserve Champion Bucket Calf — RAMM Livestock/Sargent Irrigation/Huffman-Levander Funeral Home/Bank of Elgin/Town & Country Vet Clinic/Quick Serve-Pit Stop
Grand Champion Barrow — First National Bank-Norfolk
Grand Champion Market Gilt — Hild Construction
Grand Champion Market Lamb — Pioneer Seed
Reserve Champion Market Lamb — Kayton International/Quick Serve-Pit Stop/Jerry’s Feed Service/Will’s Paint & Body
Grand Champion Market Goat — Verdigre Livestock/Snider Memorial Funeral Home
Wheeler County Premium Sale
Grand Champion Market Hog — Citizens State Bank
Reserve Champion Market Hog — Cornerstone Bank
Grand Champion Market Broiler — Daryl Hoefener LG Seeds
Reserve Champion Market Broiler — Ita Insurance
Grand Champion Market Rabbit — Cornerstone Bank
Reserve Champion Market Rabbit — Ita Insurance
Grand Champion Market Goat — Ericson State Bank
Reserve Champion Market Goat — Ericson State Bank
Grand Champion Market Lamb — Herd Co.
Reserve Champion Market Lamb — Cornerstone Bank
Grand Champion Market Steer — Herd Co.
Grand Champion Market Heifer — Ericson State Bank/Wagonhammer Ranch
Reserve Champion Market Steer — Herd Co.
Reserve Champion Market Heifer — Citizens State Bank
Reserve Champion Crossbred Steer — Herd Co.
