More than $250,000 changed hands on Thursday, July 30, as 802 animals were trotted through the Huntington County 4-H auction.
But while the number of 4-H animals was up from last year, the total auction take was down by $50,000.
It's the second straight year of declining bids. The total auction take this year, including the appraisal prices and premiums, was $256,360. That's down from the 2008 total of $306,525. The auction had a record-breaking year in 2007, taking in a total of $315,765.52.
The 802 animals sold this year compares to 758 animals sold in 2008, and 769 in 2007.
Each animal goes into the ring with a set market price which, unless the buyer places a hold on the animal, is paid by the slaughterhouse. The bidder pays the premium - an amount over and above the market price - which goes straight to the 4-H member selling the animal.
This year, the average premium paid per animal was $198.74, down from the average premium per animal of $250.41 paid in 2008. In 2007, the average premium per animal was $264.38.
Trevor Brewer, a 4-H member from Huntington Township, left the ring with the heaviest pocket of all. He got $4,600 for his grand champion barrow from the swine show. The 272-pound animal, which had a market price of only $108.80, was purchased by a group calling itself the "Friends and Family of Trevor Brewer."
While dairy animals are traditionally not sold at auction, each of the three dairy showmanship winners sells a gallon of milk at auction. Those three gallons of milk brought in $1,775, up from $1,500 in 2008. All of the money paid for the milk is premium, so the average premium per gallon this year was $591.67, up from $500 last year.
Of all the species sold at auction, dairy and sheep were the only ones to see increased premiums.
Sixty-one sheep were sold this year for a total of $20,750, with premium money making up $13,486 of that total. The average premium per animal this year was $221.08. The 52 sheep sold last year brought in a total of $17,250, with $11,227.79 of that amount in premium money - for an average premium per animal of $215.92.
In the beef auction, 60 animals were sold this year for a total of $75,375; of that, $15,749.98 was premium money, for an average premium of $262.50 per animal. Last year's 67 head of beef sold for a total of $98,100. The 2008 premium total was $25,620.28, for an average premium per animal of $382.39.
Ninety-five goats were sold at auction this year for a total price of $24,030, down from last year's total take of $29,500 for 102 goats. The premium paid was also down, from $24,889.70 last year to $19,216.70 in 2009.
The average premium paid per goat this year was $202.28, compared to $232.89 last year.
In the poultry auction, 262 birds were sold this year for a total of $39,000, all premium money, for an average premium of $148.85 per bird. Last year, the 228 birds brought in a total of $49,625, for an average premium per bird of $217.65.
Eighty-seven rabbits brought in a total of $13,400 this year, with $12,773.51 of that paid out in premium money for an average premium per rabbit of $146.82. In the 2008 auction, 79 rabbits brought in a total of $16,950, including $16,346.65 in premiums. Last year's average premium per rabbit was $206.92.
The 234 swine sold this year brought in a total of $82,030, including $57,387.60 in premium money, for an average premium per animal of $247.17. In 2008, 227 swine crossed the auction block, bringing in a total of $93,600, including $60,592.93 in premium money for an average premium per animal of $266.93.