Fair Steer Auction Nets $160,415

Sixty-two blue ribbon market steers brought a total of $160,415 at the Washington Town and Country Fair Saturday.

The average price paid was $2.10 a pound. The market price Saturday was $1.17 a pound.

Last year 61 market steers were auctioned for a total of $168,080. The average price paid in the 2011 steer auction was $2.22 a pound.

No records were broken in the steer auction but Fair livestock officials were pleased with the gross results. The record per pound for steers was set in 2006. The record is $2.83 a pound.

In 2010, 57 market steers were auctioned for a total of $151,018.75. The average price per pound was $2.12 a pound. In 2009, 72 steers were auctioned for a total of $164,242.50. The average paid was $1.81 a pound.

The grand champion steer was shown by Jessica Siedhoff, New Haven. She is a member of the New Haven 4-H Club. This was the third year in a row Siedhoff exhibited the grand champion. Livestock officials said that has never happened before. Siedhoff’s steer weighed 1,260 pounds. Franklin County Treasurer Squeaky Marquart paid $4.50 a pound for a total of $5,670 for the champion.

In 2011, the grand champion was purchased by Happy Apple Company, Washington, for $3.50 a pound for a total of $4,812.50.

The reserve champion this year was exhibited by Andi Placht, New Haven. She is also a member of the New Haven 4-H Club. The Bank of Washington paid $3 a pound for the reserve champion for a total of $3,750.

Six steers were purchased by the Bank of Washington, the most by any one buyer. hth companies, Union, was the successful bidder on four steers.

The steers were judged in six weight classes. All of the steers in Thursday evening’s competition received blue ribbons.

The list of buyers and prices paid to exhibitors can be found in a separate story in this edition.