Penokee Range 4-H holds 'meat tasting' in preparation for county fair

HURLEY - Members of the Penokee Range 4-H program were at Stoffel's Country Store on Saturday to offer customers samples from a variety of dishes made with animals raised by the 4-H program. The purpose of the samples was to attract interest in the 4-H animal auction, held during the Iron County Fair in August.

"(Today) was a day that kids could promote the market sale for the Penokee Range 4-H livestock club," said Carol Alonen, one of the general leaders of the group. "... (the food is) a sample of the quality so the consumer can taste what the kids are producing."

Residents could sample a variety of sliders - including traditional beef sliders, pulled pork and pulled turkey - as well as lamb meatballs with a cucumber-dill sauce. The program also sold baked goods and had free ice cream cones in recognition of June's designation as "dairy month."

Even with the overcast skies and occasional rain shower, the offerings seemed to be popular with customers.

"Turnout has been good," Alonen said, "even though we had some rain, turnout has been very good. "

The auction, held at 6 p.m. on Aug. 1 in the fair's livestock pavilion, is the culmination of the members' efforts raising their animals, Alonen said.

Members have the option of selecting from a steer, lamb, hog or pen of six broiler chickens to raise for the auction. The members purchase the animals and are largely the only ones responsible for feeding and raising the animal before it is sold - hopefully for a profit, Alonen said.

In addition to the physical requirements of raising the animals, Alonen said they were also responsible for tracking the costs of the animals - including purchase price, feed costs and any other costs such as veterinary bills, as well as other minor costs for advertising and transportation to a meat-packing facility - and then receiving the money earned from the sale of the animal.

"It teaches them responsibility, it teaches them animal care, it teaches them small business (skills)," Alonen said. "(It teaches them) sometimes you make a profit and sometimes you don't."

Although the 4-H program is open to members in kindergarten through the year after 12th grade, Alonen said, participants must at least be in third grade before they can raise animals to auction - with sixth grade being the youngest level that can raise a steer. Those too young to raise an animal for the auction can still raise animals that are shown at the fair, with the help of a parent or guardian, Alonen said.

Steers are purchased in the fall of the year prior to the year they are sold, Alonen said, with lambs, hogs and broiler chickens are all purchased the spring of the year they are to be sold.

While the auction style means that generally the animals are sold for more than market price, the amount above the market prices on the day of the auction is tax deductible, according to Alonen.

For more information on the auction or the 4-H program in general. Contact Alonen at 715-561-5702 or Neil Klemme - with the University of Wisconsin's Iron County Extension Office, who oversees all 4-H activity in the county - at 715-561-2695.