Even though the Tucker County Fair was canceled due as a result of the executive orders made by W.Va. Governor Jim Justice, a youth livestock show and sale was held which brought in over $75,000 for the exhibitors.
By Heather Clower
The Parsons Advocate
Even though the Tucker County Fair was canceled due to orders set forth by W.Va. Governor Jim Justice, a livestock show and sale was held to allow the youth exhibitors to showcase their projects and offer them for sale. The shows were held privately with only the exhibitors and their immediate family in the barn and the sale was only open to exhibitors, their family, and registered buyers.
Awards were given by Beverly Rosier on behalf of the Tucker County Farm Bureau. The recipients were Tate Mullenax, Owen Knotts, Sidney Simmons, and Laney Burns. Each exhibitor received a $50 gift certificate from Adkins Home Center to use towards their next years feed bill at Southern States. Rosier stated, “It’s when kids help other kids with their animals.” She added, “It’s not just over the course of the fair or show but over the duration of their 4-H and FFA season.” The barn chairman and extension agent typically contributes towards the selection of the recipients because they spend the entire duration of the event with the youth and notice which individuals go above and beyond to help their fellow showmen and women.
The sixth annual Vickie R. Bright Memorial Award was presented by her family to Owen Knotts. Pat Bright, husband of the late V. Bright, stated, “She (Vickie) would want us to do something for the youth.” Each year, a custom belt buckle is given to a livestock exhibitor that exhibits exceptional sportsmanship and dedication to the 4-H and FFA missions. Much like the goals of the Farm Bureau, the recipient is chosen based on the entire year, not only the time at the fair or show. “The purpose of the shows and the fair is to allow these kids to showcase their projects they have worked long and hard on and if we can recognize someone who went the extra mile, we’re going to do that in Vick’s name,” he concluded.
Auctioneer Aaron Harris began the sale with the 2020 market steer exhibits. The following were the unofficial results of those exhibits:
Market steer entries:
- Grand Champion – Tate Mullenax, 1265 pounds to Shop N’ Save for $4 per pound
- Reserve Champion – MaKenna Evans, 1598 pounds to J and K Nelson Trucking for $4.90 per pound
- Zada Carr, 901 pounds to Mettiki Coal for $5 per pound
- Sidney Simmons, 1133 pounds to Timberline Mountain for $3.85 per pound
- Sean Simmons, 1260 pounds to Prosecuting Attorney Ray LaMora for $3.25 per pound
Feeder steer projects:
- Grand Champion – Alaina Owens, 691 pounds to Robinson Logging for $2.75 per pound
- Reserve Champion – MaKenna Evans, 535 pounds to Anne Banfield for $2.50 per pound
- Marky Phillips, 560 pounds to Oakland Southern States for $1.75 per pound
Feeder heifer entries:
- Grand Champion – MaKenna Evans, 780 pounds to Jimbo’s Construction for $2.50 per pound
- Reserve Champion – Braxton Smith, 360 pounds to J and L Trucking for $2.25 per pound
Market lambs:
- Grand Champion – Tate Mullenax, $975 to Hostetler Funeral Home
Market goat exhibits:
- Grand Champion – MaKenna Evans, $625 to Grant County Bank
- Reserve Champion – MaKenna Evans, $400 to Dr. Harvey
- Jacob DeVilder, $550 to Jennings Excavation
- Owen Knotts, $525 to State Farm
- Hannah Cussins, $675 to Rest Rite Campground
- Ava Wilfong, $1,000 to Mettiki Coal
- Hannah Cussins, $525 to Grant County Bank
- Emily Snyder, $900 to Black and White Cattle Company
- Ava Wilfong, $750 to Elkins Motorsports
- Laney Burns, $550 to Grant County Bank
- Owen Knotts, $500 to Fargo Insurance Company
- Jacob DeVilder, $500 to Fargo Insurance Company
- Laney Burns, $450 to Mountain Valley Bank
Market hog projects:
- Grand Champion – Tate Mullenax, 290 pounds to Wolfe Creek Show Pigs for $3.75 per pound
- Reserve Champion – Hannah Cussins, 244 pounds to Mettiki Coal for $4.25 per pound
- Camille Smith, 256 pounds to Grant County Bank for $4.10 per pound
- Jacob DeVilder, 274 pounds to Jennings Excavating for $5.50 per pound
- Karlee Smith, 270 pounds to J and K Nelson Trucking for $4.00 per pound
- Jacob DeVilder, 240 pounds to Coastal Drilling for $7.00 per pound
- Sidney Simmons, 285 pounds to J and M Sharpening and Repair for $3.75 per pound
- Cassidy Davis, 276 pounds to Farm Credit for $3.75 per pound
- Logan Pennington, 259 pounds to Mountain Valley Bank for $3.75
- Darrah Pennington, 247 pounds to Arch Coal for $4.00 per pound
- Laney Burns, 245 pounds to Senator Randy Smith for $4.00 per pound
- Owen Knotts, 237 pounds to Arch Coal for $4.00 per pound
- Laney Burns, 290 pounds to Gina DeLauder for $3.25 per pound
- Sean Simmons, 278 pounds to Mountain Valley Bank for $3.75
- MaKenna Evans, 261 pounds to Senator Randy Smith for $4.50 per pound
- Owen Knotts, 254 pounds to Anne Banfield for $3.75 per pound
- Cassidy Davis, 241 pounds to Briar Meadow Whitetail for $4.00 per pound
- Hannah Cussins, 234 pounds to Sirianni’s for $3.75 per pound
- Darrah Pennington, 290 pounds to Robinson Logging for $3.00 per pound
- Zada Carr, 273 pounds to Alan Robinson for $3.00 per pound
- Sean Simmons, 275 pounds to Timberline Mountain for $3.00 per pound
- Tate Mullenax, 257 pounds to Senator Smith for $3.50 per pound
- Logan Pennington, 245 pounds to Hostetler Funeral Home for $3.50 per pound
- MaKenna Evans, 229 pounds to Jennings Excavation for $4.25 per pound
- Zada Carr, 242 pounds to JMS Mine Repair for $3.50 per pound
Laying hen entries:
- Grand Champion – Abby Wilfong, $425 to Mettiki Coal
- Reserve Champion – Alexander Leary, $350 to Citizens National Bank
- Joanna Leary, $325 to Grant County Bank
- Ava Wilfong, $375 to Briar Meadow Whitetail
- Vivian Crossland, $250 to Grant County Bank
- Isaiah Leary, $350 to MR Pizza
- Owen Knotts, $275 to Golden Rule Farm
- MaKenna Evans, $350 to Anne Banfield
- Jacob DeVilder, $500 to Dan’s Marine Service
- Sidney Simmons, $200 to JNL Trucking
- Sean Simmons, $200 to WV Paving
- Zada Carr, $250 to MR Pizza
- Alaina Owens, $425 to Citizens National Bank
- Autumn Knotts, $325 to Savannah Hull Wilkins
- Braxton Smith, $350 to Moore’s Farm Service
Market rabbit exhibits:
- Grand Champion – MaKenna Evans, $375 to WV Paving
- Reserve Champion – Alexis Malcom, no sale
- Hannah Cussins, $200 to George Wilfong
- Bella Carr, $175 to Sirianni’s
- Vivian Crossland, $200 to Danny and Phyllis Carr
- Joanna Leary, $250 to Savannah Hull Wilkins
- Isaiah Leary, $225 to MR Pizza
- Alexander Leary, $275 to MR Pizza
- Autumn Knotts, $175 to Anne Banfield
- Paityn Clower, $675 to Ace Aggregates
- Jacob DeVilder, $350 to Arch Coal
Duck entries:
- Grand Champion – Jacob Devilder, $500 to Micon Mining
- Reserve Champion – Autumn Knotts, $300 to J and K Nelson Trucking
At the end of the sale, the total, preliminary contributions of the buyers to the youth of Tucker County came to $75,884.85. Several of the buyers donated their purchases back to the exhibitor, Tucker County FFA, Tucker County 4-H Leaders, 4-H Clubs, 4-H Teen Leaders, and the Tucker County Fair Board. “I think it was a great sale,” proclaimed Harris. “You never know what 2020 will bring but your (Tucker County’s) supporters were there and helped the kids immensely.”
