41st annual Market Animal Auction

IRONWOOD - 4-H hosted the 41st Annual Market Animal Auction on Saturday afternoon during the Gogebic County Fair.

Throughout the afternoon, 24 4-H members displayed their steers, lambs, hogs and pictures of their turkey and boilers around the Cattle Arena for over 50 audience members. This year, no poultry was allowed due to bird flu.

Any 4-H members auctioning off their animal were enrolled in the 2014-15 animal market summer project.

During the summer, they met every Monday night helping to prepare the fairgrounds by doing maintenance chores. All day long, they poured concrete in the non-market hog stall, pressure washing the livestock barn, re-building stalls, fixing pens in need of repair and many other projects to make the auction a success.

Before the auction, potential bidders arrived at the fair early to check out all the animals to be auctioned off.

One animal auctioned off was Jedi, the steer, raised by William Newberry. The cowboy said he adopted Jedi in October and raised him.

"I fed him hay everyday and cleaned the barn once a week," he said.

Over time, Newberry said he formed a relationship with Jedi and is sad to see him go.

"But it was a pain in the butt," he said, "I'm going to miss Jedi."

During the auction, ZebMagley paraded and sold his lamb, Ruthus.

Magley said he adopted Ruth's four months ago.

"It has been pretty easy raising him," he said. "I just work with him every now and then. Feed him. Give him water."

Magley said it was hard letting him go.

"I'm going to miss Ruthus," he said.