Summary of the Hokie Harvest Sale VII

Livestock Update, December 2001

D.E. Eversole, Extension Animal Scientist, VA Tech

The 2001 Livestock Merchandising Class entertained an enormous crowd of prospective horse and beef cattle buyers at the 7th Annual Hokie Harvest Sale on Friday, October 26th. Twenty-one and 30 lots of university beef cattle and horses, respectively, were sold concurrently at public auction in Campbell Arena (horses) and the Livestock Judging Pavilion (beef cattle) to 182 registered buyers from Virginia, Maryland, West Virginia, Ohio, New Jersey, North Carolina, Connecticut, and Tennessee. The beef cattle sale grossed $40,625 with a sale average of $1934, and the horse sale averaged $1890 with a sale gross of $52,925.

Three different breeds of beef cattle (Angus, Polled Hereford, and Gelbvieh) were sold with Lot 32 topping the cow/calf division at $2800. This Angus cow, a '97 daughter of GAR Precision 1680, ranks in the top 3% of active dams for Carcass Ribeye (+.34) and %RP (+.38) EPDs. She sold to Olen Swisher of Staunton, VA. Her bull calf, sired by GAR Expectation 4915, sold to Thomas Thompson of Natural Bridge Station, VA.

In the bred heifer division, three different heifers (lots 38A, 38B, and 47B) were sale toppers at $1,225. Lots 38A and 38B were Angus heifers sired by Sitz Traveler 8180 and Rito 6I6, respectively. Both heifers were purchased by French Croft of Swoope, VA. Lot 47B was a red, double polled daughter of MCJ Mr Doc 730X. David Smith of Copper Hill, VA purchased this outstanding Gelbvieh replacement female.

In the open heifers, Jerry Gustin of Gloucester, VA paid $925 for an Angus female (Lot 40B) sired by Sitz Alliance 6595 and out of a powerful Rito 2RT2 cow.

VPI Advantage 0K50 (Lot 48) drew the top bid from Charlie Williams of Fairfield, VA, in the yearling bull division. This Angus bull is a son of Ankonian Elixir 100 and ranks in the top 1% among 1999 non-parent bulls for Milk (+27) and YW (+93) EPDs and in the top 2% for % IMF (+.10). He sold for $1,225.

The top selling horse was Lot 16, a 1999 dark bay gelding (16.2_ hands) named VT Joker's Wild, which sold to Hollace Martin of Midlothian, VA for $6,000. This two-year-old Oldenburg gelding has the genetic background, expressive movement, and initial training to become an exceptional performance horse. Lot 17, a 1999 registered Swedish Warmblood filly named VT Jumpstart, brought $5,200 from Melynda Hurley of Nokesville, VA.

The 68 students did a marvelous job of preparing for the sale. They gained "hands-on" experience in sale management, budgeting, cataloging, advertising, livestock photography, clerking, and health requirements. A special thanks is extended to Jeff Marsh and Paul Coleman for serving as auctioneers for the horses and beef cattle, respectively. Students Mike Lafon, Blacksburg, VA; Kate Repair, Glasgow, VA; Janet Thomas, Rocky Mount, NC; and Winston Vaughan, Amelia, VA served as ringmen for the beef cattle sale while Davy Blessing, Wytheville, VA worked the ring. Bid-takers for the horse sale were Rif Achmetov, McLean, VA; Kate Fraga, Reston, VA; Heidi Jones, Blacksburg, VA; and Elizabeth Masi, Bainbridge Island, WA.

The Barbecue Committee, with assistance from the Block and Bridle Club in the Department of Animal and Poultry Sciences, served a complimentary BBQ dinner to over 775 guests. Their support and cooperation are greatly appreciated.

The response from the buying public and feedback from the students in the class continues to be overwhelming in favor of hosting another student-managed livestock sale. Plans are currently underway for another beef cattle and horse sale on October 25, 2002.

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