HONESDALE, PA — On August 9 at the Wayne County Fairgrounds in Honesdale, supporters of 4-H and FFA gathered for the Junior Livestock Sale, held in the show ring.

By the end, the sale tallied $634,855.50 in support of local 4-H and FFA members’ livestock projects. 

This year’s sale saw 396 market steers, hogs, lambs, goats and pens of meat rabbits cross the auction block. The resale of animals, aka buy-backs, ensured scholarships for the coming year, plus a $33,208.80 jumpstart toward next year’s fund.

Prior to the start of the sale, 4-H and FFA members marched into the arena and recited both the 4-H pledge and the FFA pledge. Madison Franckowiak led the crowd in the singing of the national anthem. 

Eleven 4-H and FFA Livestock Scholarship recipients, who will seek higher education or enter agribusiness in the coming year, were introduced. Scholarships of $2,500 each were awarded to Olyvea Burke, Johnathan Conlogue, Paige Gries, Rylan Montgomery, Clara Murphy, Laura Nebzydoski, Nicole Non, Michaela Reed, Channing Rutledge and Clara Stackhouse. 

The scholarship program became a part of the Junior Livestock Sale in 1998. Scholarship funds have grown in recent years, mainly as a result of buy-backs, when animals are purchased at the auction, then donated back for resale to benefit the scholarship fund. Direct donations to memorialize a death or milestone occasion are also a means of adding to the scholarship fund.

Contributions and memorials can be directed to the Wayne County 4-H and FFA Livestock Sale Scholarship in care of Rosalind Williams, secretary and scholarship fund manager, 409 Stock Farm Road, Lake Ariel, PA, 18436.

Auction results

The first animal offered for sale was Rylan Montgomery’s 257-pound Grand Champion Market Hog. Rylan is a member of the Calkins Ag 4-H Club. Roger Dirlam of Dirlam Brothers Lumber Company successfully bid the hog to $38/pound. 

The 285-pound Reserve Grand Champion Market Hog was sold by Brooke Kellogg, a member of the Pleasant Mount Go-Getters 4-H Club.  The winning bid of $22/pound was placed by Michael Cavage of Pioneer Construction.  

The 143-pound Grand Champion Market Lamb was raised by Hailey Wasman of the Explorers 4-H Club. Mike Cavage of Pioneer Construction bid this champion to $42.50/pound.

Olivia Jonas raised the 150-pound Reserve Grand Champion Market Lamb. Olivia is a member of the Pleasant Mount Go-Getters 4-H Club. Earl Marshall of Marshall Machinery bought this animal for $17.50/pound. 

Cora Freidenstine exhibited the 81-pound Grand Champion Market Meat Goat. Cora is a member of the Tri-Gal 4-H Club. Earl Marshall of Marshall Machinery successfully bid $47.50/pound to purchase this champion. 

Andrew Freidenstine won Reserve Grand Champion Market Meat Goat honors with his 63-pound market meat goat. Andrew is a member of the Tri-Gal 4-H Club.  Adam Henning of Narrowsburg Feed and Grain Company bid this champion to $41/pound.   

Jeremiah Burleigh’s 1,445-pound Grand Champion Market Steer was purchased by Rob and Karla Grimm of Grimm Construction for $8/pound. Jeremiah is a member of the Pleasant Mount Go-Getters 4-H Club. 

Olivia Jonas exhibited the 1,280-pound Reserve Grand Champion Market Steer. The steer was successfully bid to $5/pound by Grimm Construction.  Olivia is a member of the Pleasant Mount Go-Getters 4-H Club. 

Showing the 1,070 lb. Grand Champion Grass-Fed Market Steer was Jenna Eccles of the Pleasant Mount Go-Getters 4-H Club. Thomas Eccles of Impact Building Solutions bid this animal to $3/pound.  

Truly Zablocky sold her pen of Grand Champion Market Meat Rabbits to Dan Moran of Wood Duck Electric. Truly is a member of Bethany 4-H. Cortland Green sold the Reserve Grand Champion pen to the Honesdale National Bank. Cortland belongs to the Calkins Ag 4-H Club.

Grand Champion and Reserve Grand Champion Homebred Livestock results:

Market hogs were exhibited by Olivia Jonas and Haley Jonas.

Market lambs were exhibited by Piper Williams and Jenna Eccles.

Market goats were exhibited by Abby Wasman and Wynn Maciejewski.

Market steers were exhibited by Jason Vass and Rose Burleigh. 

Mike Cavage of Pioneer Construction outbid all other buyers at the sale, spending nearly $89,000 on market animals. Following Pioneer was Grimm Construction, spending over $36,000 on livestock. Next in order were Macky Burleigh of Burleigh Construction, with nearly $22,000 spent on livestock and Kyle Salvatore of Delaware Valley Farm and Garden, approaching the $20,000 mark.

Other significant buyers, in order of buying power:

$17,000 to $12,000:  Cochecton Mills, Inc.; Narrowsburg Feed and Grain; Grossman Farms; Marshall Machinery; Dirlam Brothers Lumber Company; and Waymart Milling Company. 

$11,999 to $7,000:  Pleasant Mount Welding, Rutledge Excavating, Leeward Construction, Maciejewski Landscaping Inc./360 Hunting Blinds, Ellis Law Group, Rusty Palmer Inc. and Zablocky Excavating LLC.

$6,999 to $5,000:  Paul’s Custom Butchering; Diehl Trucking, Inc.; Dave Vanderwark; Down to Earth Equipment Rentals; Ron and Tammy Scull dba RTS Truck Center/Valley Sand and Gravel/Valley Farm; Tim Wright/Cold Creek Farm; Carbondale Veterinary Hospital; Jen Rutledge Materials; Wallenpaupack Veterinary Clinic; Remax of Wayne County-Remax Best; and Case Tire Service, Inc.

$4,999 to $4,000:  Olsommer-Clark Insurance; Five Star Equipment; A & A Excavating; Mander Fire and Safety; Watson Timber Harvesting; Rutledge Livestock; Apple Day Spa and Salon; TZS Construction LLC; Meagher Insurance; Beck, Gogolski and Co.; Medico Construction Equipment; Dry Creek Farms/Logan Hall; Dr. Jessica Sheruda and Dr. Adam Ryan; and the Wayne Bank.

$3,999 to $3,000:  Dyberry Sand and Gravel Co.; Gina Farrachi; Nick Lauersen; Jim Histed’s Plumbing and Heating; G5 Insurance; Wayne County Ford; Hook Well Drilling; the Dime Bank; Eddie Ware; Boyce Products, LTD; Matt and Beth Salzameda; Aleckna Farms; Dexter Construction Co.; Kretschmer Excavating LLC; Impact Building Solutions; Eccles Family Farm; Shursky Companies; and Dakan Enterprises, Inc.

$2,999 to $1,500:  Komar Farm and Meats, Finally Able Farm, the Honesdale National Bank, Honesdale Farm and Garden, R.O.W. Resources, Jake and Charlotte Turner, Northeast Firearms, Roger and Kathryn Dix, Cherry Ridge Veterinary Clinic, Steve Adams, Wood Duck Electric, Hometown Family Farm, Andrew Krompasky, Henderson Trucking, Central Clay, New Milford Hardware, Fox Hill Farm, Blue Stone Environmental Inc., Calkins Creamery, Highlights Foundation, Dry Brook Farms LLC, Judge Matthew Meagher, Joel and Betsy Turner, Cleveland Brothers, Honesdale Spreading Service, Vicky L. Bryant-LaTourette and Lantzsch Farm.