Tri-Rivers Fair

Livestock sale rewards teen trainer

By Tim Unruh

Salina Journal

After weeks of training, grooming, feeding and caring for Peanuts on her family's farm near Assaria, Katie Heimer made her farewell parade with the Hereford steer Saturday morning.

This appearance wasn't for ribbons but for bonus money at the livestock sale.

The 1,043-pound steer stood next to its 13-year-old handler from Assaria while auctioneer Eric Blomquist rattled off bids from dozens of local and area businesses and individuals. Some 200 people crowded into a barn in Kenwood Park and supported the Tri-Rivers Fair by rewarding youths for their hard work. Straub International and First Bank Kansas teamed to bid highest for Peanuts, paying Katie $325 in bonus money.

"That's what the kids get paid on top of market value for their animals," said Ron Heimer, Katie's dad.

Added to the 90 cents a pound market price, Katie will put $1,263.70 in her savings account for college.

It was a good ending to a somewhat disappointing fair performance for Peanuts, who didn't react well to crowds and other steers for the beef show in Agricultural Hall. Katie won a red ribbon for showmanship, and her steer received a blue ribbon competing with other Hereford steers.

"He kind of acted spoiled. He was nervous. He's not the nicest steer," she said.

Most youths choose to sell their animals, Extension Director Carl Garten said, but some will opt to hold onto their hoofed projects for future competitions, including the Kansas State Fair 4-H livestock shows Sept. 7-9 in Hutchinson and the Kansas Junior Livestock Show Sept. 21-23 in Wichita.

Blomquist ran 15 steers, 29 sheep, 25 swine and 4 goats through the rings Saturday morning. Green Lantern paid the highest premium -- $1,800 -- to Cory Craver of the Gypsum Valley 4-H Club, for his grand champion steer. Added to the market price, Cory will make $2,952 for his steer.

On Monday morning, Peanuts will be loaded in a truck with the other sold cattle and taken to a packing plant in Emporia, where he will be slaughtered and processed for meat. Katie and her fellow competitors also may be paid premiums after the animal carcasses are judged Tuesday at the packing plant.

Asked if there was any sadness in knowing where Peanuts is headed, Katie said, "It doesn't bother me a bit."

The youngest of Ron Heimer's four girls, she understands the reality of real-world livestock production. Peanuts was her fourth steer project. As the years pass, their sentiment wanes, he said.

"To start with, there were some tears. They're starting to look forward to the payday," Ron Heimer said.

The project goal is learning how to raise animals and sell them for a profit.

"You can't spend two or three hundred dollars fattening it up and then just look at it. It's a business," he said.

Peanuts and the other show animals represent months of work. Sometime in January or February, Katie Heimer picked Peanuts at Oleen Cattle Co., Falun, which raises registered Herefords.

After being broken to wear a halter, Katie began training Peanuts to walk with her. As the show approached, she increased her time with the animal. In the two weeks leading up to the Tri-Rivers Fair, Katie was training Peanuts about two hours a day.

Auction bidders showed up Saturday morning to reward the youths' hard work. Among them was Michael Martin, a farm and commercial loan officer at Sunflower Bank.

"The kids put in a lot of time," he said. Salina and area businesses have shown "broad support" for the fair through the years, he said, both as auction buyers and sponsors. Martin solicits businesses to bid at the auction and makes bids for those who can't attend.

In return, the youths deliver letters of appreciation to the businesses, along with treats, such as cookies or cupcakes. Meeting business people face-to-face is good training, he said.

"There's no better way for a business to get a bang for their buck than to put it right back into the youth of the community," Martin said.

• Reporter Tim Unruh can be reached at 822-1419 or by e-mail at sjtunruh@saljournal.com.

FACTOID:

Top premiums at the Tri-Rivers Fair livestock auction:

• Grand Champion Steer: Cory Craver, Gypsum Valley 4-H Club , $1,800 from Green Lantern.

• Reserve Grand Champion Market Lamb: Lane Trautwein, Smoky View 4-H Club, $775 from Green Lantern.

• Grand Champion Swine: Zach Blomquist, Friendly Valley 4-H Club, $900 from Green Lantern.

• Meat Goat: Alex Station, Stoney Ridge 4-H Club $275 premium from Clubine & Rettele, Smoky Hill Bison, Frontier Farm Credit and Farmers Union Elevator.

*the grand champion swine, and grand and reserve champion meat goats did not sell at the auction.

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