The Sanilac County Fair has come and gone and by all counts, it was a huge success all the way around. Fair Board officials report strong numbers with folks visiting the fair and even though the total number of livestock entries were down, livestock sale officials say the sale on Friday ranks among the best ever.
Livestock Committee Chairman John Bowsky, who also serves as the Swine Department Superintendent and helps with Andy Jahn to organize the sale, says after the dust had settled, over $700,000 dollars was bid on sale tagged items.
According to Bowsky, there were 271 tagged items go through the sale ring. He said many buyers were able to save last year’s budgeted money due to no fair as a result of the COVID pandemic so this year, there was more money available and fewer large animals overall.
Bowsky thanked bidders from throughout the area who have shown strong support of the livestock exhibitors. The final tab on the sale was $704,000 dollars bid compared to $550,000 in 2019.
Bowsky said the $704,000 dollars was the secnd highest sale that he could recall since his time involved with the fair, nearly 10 years ago.
More than $200,000 dollars came just in the beef sale.
All of the proceeds of the sale go to the exhibitors to help cover costs of the projects, feed and other costs. Bowsky said the large animal and small animal committees keep a very small percentage of the sale dollars to help cover costs for yearly expenses and show/ sale planning for the next year.
During the sale, according to the final sale bill, the Grand Champion beef brought $7.50 per pound on a 1,355 lb. steer, equaling $10,162 dollars.
The Champion Dairy, weighing 1,515 garnered $7.25 per pound or a sale-high $10,983 dollars.
The Overall Reserve Grand Champion veal calf brought $12.50 per lb on 345 pounds, or $4,312 dollars.
Buyers brought cheers from the crowd with the sale of a particular sheep that weighed 141 pounds and sold for $45 dollars per pound for a total of $6,345 dollars. The Grand Champion sheep brought $11.25 per pound on 134 pounds for a total of $1,507 dollars.
The Grand Champion Prospect Beef weighed in at 462 pounds and brought $11.50 per pound for a sale total of $5,313 dollars, only to have the Reserve Champion Prospect sell for $17.25 per pound on 626 pounds, a total of $10,798 dollars.
The Reserve Champion hog weighed 262 pounds and sold for $10.00 per pound for a total of $2,620 dollars while another hog further down the sale list weighed in at 285 pounds and sold for $2,921 dollars.
The Sanilac County Fair Board and Livestock Committee would like to extend a big thank you to all of the buyers who helped make the 2021 sale one of the best ever.
