4-H Meat Auction Raises Over $85,000

DUNKIRK – This month, the 56^th Annual 4-H meat sale raised over $85,000 to help youth in Chautauqua County.

Officials with the Cornell Cooperative Extension say the auction was held online this year after the county fair was canceled due to the COVID-19 pandemic.

Over 90 percent of proceeds from the event was returned to youth, funding programs hosted within 4-H.

There were no shows held prior to the sale, however officials say all animals were raised on appropriate feeding plans and of course with the highest level of care.

Instead of selling by the pound all sales were by the head, meaning the animal was purchased for a dollar amount that did not depend on the weight of the animal.

This year’s top selling hog was raised by Levi Overend and sold for over $2,000. The average price for the 35 hogs that were auctioned was nearly $900.

Also, noteworthy this year was Holly Crandall’s steer which sold for $5,250. The average of the nine steers auctioned was over $4,000.

Corinne Covert raised the top selling market goat which sold for $375, Kendall Eckman’s top selling market lamb went for $575, and Liam Griffith received the top dollar for his pair of market chickens.

The sale was held online on Thursday, July 16 and Friday, July 17.

Additionally, over $1,000 in donations were made to various 4-H animal projects and the 4-H Endowment held at the Chautauqua Region Community Foundation.