Saturday, Aug. 29, 2009

Market Stock Sale: Little cowgirl back after run-in with cattle

By Loretto J. Hulse, Herald food writer

KENNEWICK -- If anyone embodies the phrase "cowboy up," it's McCall Lovejoy, daughter of Diane Lovejoy of Eltopia.

The 9-year-old was holding the lead rope of an Angus cow at the Benton Franklin Fair & Rodeo on Tuesday when another picked a fight. The two cattle began pushing and shoving and as McCall said, "I didn't get out fast enough."

She was trampled, and one of the cows' feet struck her right leg, breaking her tibia and fibula. Yet Friday morning, the day of the annual Market Stock Sale, she was back at the fairgrounds on crutches, her leg immobilized.

"I came to watch Butterball," she said.

McCall is a member of the Footloose 4-H Club in Eltopia, and Butterball is her 1,342-pound Hereford steer.

Asked if the steer now made her nervous, she calmly replied, "No, he doesn't scare me."

Butterball was destined for sale in the Market Stock Sale, but McCall already is looking forward to next year and next year's steer.

That was the prevailing attitude of the 4-H and FFA youths Friday. Most stoically led their animals in and out of the sales ring with only a few tears shed.

"We tell them they are raising a meat animal for meat producers," said Janell Dever of Pasco, leader of the Blockbusters 4-H Club of Pasco.

Total sales were $517,000, without add-ins. The sales were down some from last year's total of $580,000, which included the add-ins, but this year there were 23 fewer animals than last year, said Lori Lancaster, manager of the fair and rodeo.

The last lamb sold for $12,500, and the exhibitor donated the proceeds to the fair's Tough Enough to Wear Pink campaign, which raises money for breast cancer research.

Jessica Burrus, 13, a member of the Town & Country 4-H Club of Finley, has been showing and selling lambs for five years. This year's, Yogi Bear, was also headed for the sales ring Friday and Burrus said she was sorry to see him go, "but I know I'll have another one next year," she said.

FFA member Megan Booker, 15, of Connell has been raising and showing lambs for seven years, funneling the sales money into her college fund.

"It may seem like a lot of work, and some don't think it's cool to raise animals, but it's a great program. It teaches kids to be responsible and you meet a lot of people," Booker said.

Both the 4-H and FFA programs are good experience for youth.

"They learn a lot of life skills, responsibility, how to manage their time and it's great leadership training," Dever said.

"I showed sheep as a kid and I wanted my kids to have that experience, too," Dever said.

As Booker's uncle, Butch Booker of Booker Auction Company of Eltopia, said during a break between the sheep sales and the steers:

"This is a great group of buyers -- businesses, moms, dads, grandmoms and granddads. Know that you're all appreciated. As you drive home tonight, remember, you're not spending money, you're making an investment in good kids," Booker said.

And in some cases, it's quite an investment.

The FFA Grand Champion steer, a Black Angus owned by Kody Easterday, 14, of Basin City, sold for $4 a pound. It weighed in at 1,349 pounds.

That's $5,396 for her college fund.