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KENNEWICK -- Bam Bam fetched a high price Friday at the Benton Franklin Fair & Rodeo's annual fair market sale, and received a reward from owner Karlea Clark-Andress.
Shortly after the 277-pound FFA reserve grand champion pig returned to his pen in the sale barn, Clark-Andress leaned down and scratched Bam Bam's belly. He soon rolled onto his side and stretched out.
"He loves it," said Clark-Andress, a high school senior from Finley.
Bam Bam sold for $5.25 a pound, one of the highest prices paid in bidding by buyers for the 243 swine entered in the sale. That was $1 per pound more than the winning bid for the FFA grand champion swine shown by Zac Reisenauer of Burbank, but he wasn't complaining, either.
"This was the best price yet," said Reisenauer, who has shown pigs for six years at the fair.
The floor prices established by packing houses for swine, steers, goats and sheep at this year's fair market sale were up from a year ago -- 10 cents more for steers, at 99 cents, and 61 cents for swine, or 8 cents more than a year ago, fair officials said.
This year's 4-H grand champion steer, a 1,320-pound black angus raised by Marlo Boyd of Kahlotus, went for $3.50 a pound to the McCurley Integrity Dealerships.
The FFA grand champion, a 1,317-pound black angus raised by Danika Pink of Pasco, sold for $3 a pound to Legacy Ford.
Total sales at this year's fair market auction were being tallied late Friday and were not immediately available. But participation appeared to be equivalent to past years, with 59 steers, 17 goats and 93 sheep entered in the sale, fair officials said.
"The community really supports this auction," said Doug Elliott, president of the fair board. "It's always been a very good auction for the kids.
"We're dealing with a large agricultural community around here, so the kids are supported. And you have a lot of second-, third- and fourth-generation 4-H or FFA families here, so it's a good atmosphere," he said.
Zac Reisenauer and his father, Jon, said the support is appreciated. But Jon said he doesn't think the public realizes how much 4-H and FFA members invest in raising animals they show at the fair.
"In past years, hogs were going for around $3 a pound, and some for $1.50. When you add up the costs for buying the hog and buying good feed for them, kids are spending $300 to $400 just to get them ready," he said.
"If people knew what it actually costs to buy a pig, steer, sheep or goat and bringing it here, they'd realize the kids are not making that much money," he said.
Zac and Karlea Clark-Andress pay back their parents for costs they incurred in helping acquire and care for their animals, as well, part of the learning process instilled in 4-H and FFA members.
"It's taught me responsibility," said Clark-Andress, who wants to become a law enforcement officer.
She was involved with 4-H for two years and is in her second year with FFA. Her first fair animal was a sheep named Mango, which wound up teaching her a basic fact about raising livestock for the annual market auction: Never bond with your critter.
"I cried when he sold," Clark-Andress said, smiling at the memory. "I asked my Mom if I could keep him and she said, 'No.' "
Zac Reisenauer handles that issue by never naming his pigs. "I don't want to get close to them," he said.
Clark-Andress still names her sale-bound swine -- and isn't above scratching Bam Bam's belly -- but she's learned to draw the line.
"I know he's going to die, so I try not to get attached to them," she said. "You go out and are with them every day so they get used to you and to walk around guide them with a cane. But I try not to spend any more time with them than that."
Her mother, Michelle Andress, is under no such restraint.
"I'll get attached to them," she said.
Today is the final day of the 2010 Benton Franklin Fair & Rodeo. Through Thursday, preliminary attendance figures are 65,394, down about 4,000 from last year to date, according to fair officials.
Today at the Benton Franklin Fair & Rodeo
Hours: 9 a.m. to midnight
Information: www.bffairrodeo.com
Daily admission: $12 adults, $5 ages 6-12, $5 over 65, free under 5. The Horse Heaven Round-Up rodeo comes with admission to the fair. Wristbands for unlimited carnival rides are $25 daily.
Parking: $5 daily.
Bus: Ben Franklin Transit shuttle is every hour 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. and every half-hour 5-11 p.m. from the Knight Street Transit Center in Richland, the 22nd Avenue Transit Center in Pasco, Tri-Tech Skills Center on Kellogg and Metaline streets in Kennewick and Lampson Stadium at Kennewick High School.
Fair/bus combo ticket is $13.50 for ages 13 and older and $6.50 for kids and senior citizens. Individual fare is $1.25 each way for adults, 60 cents seniors and free for kids 5 and under. It's $3.50 for a family of 3 or more each way. Available at Yoke's, Albertsons and transit centers. Tickets for unlimited bus rides available at transit outlets only.
Highlights
9 a.m. to noon -- retriever dog competition, arena
10 a.m. -- DockDogs Big Air Wave competition, outdoor sporting exhibit
11 a.m. to 7 p.m. -- Super science company, Kids zone
11 a.m. to 8 p.m. -- Arm wrestling, Inland Community Stage
Noon on -- Davis carnival
Noon -- Cooking classes, wine garden
3 p.m. -- Trophy smallmouth bass fishing seminar, outdoor sporting exhibit
4 p.m. -- DockDogs speed retrieve competition, outdoor sporting exhibit
5 p.m. -- Herdsmanship and livestock judging awards, show ring
6 p.m. -- DockDogs speed retrieve finals, outdoor sporting exhibit
6:30 p.m. -- DockDogs Big Air finals, outdoor sporting exhibit
7 p.m. -- Horse Heaven Round-up Rodeo Patriot Night, main arena
7:30 p.m. -- Luke Bryan concert, main stage
9:30 p.m. -- Arena dance, gallery beer garden
