Farm Show sale is ag drama at its best BY DICK ANGLESTEIN FARM SHOW - For sheer agricultural drama and ex citement it’s difficult to beat the market animal sales - the traditional closing events of the Pennsylvania Farm Show. And this year was no exception. But the top drama shifted this year from the market steer to the market lamb sale. Last year, a York County in suranceman hooked up with the owner of a market chain and a record-breaking price was paid for the champion market steer. Taking his turn at leading grand champion steer around Farm Show sale ring is Ag Sec. Penrose Hallowell. Danny George, of George’s Foodliner, Bethlehem, at $12.00 a pound. With lamb are Bill and Nancy MacCauley, of Chester County. '' 1 Tim Brown, of Crawford County, poses behind his reserve champion Farm Show hog with Sherman Allen, of Conneaut Lake, who represented four Western Pa. buyers; and Chet Heim, deputy ag secretary. This year, a market owner tangled with a Bedford car dealer and a record price resulted for the market lamb. Once again, it proved the old adage that it only takes two to make the bidding at a sale real interesting. When all of the bidding dust had cleared for the champion market lamb of Sue Falvey, the 16-year-old Bedford County 4-H’er had probably sold what may be one of the most valuable lambs ever to cross an auction Mock. Traditional Farm Show lamb Trio with grand champion steer following Farm Show sale are, from the left, Danny George, of George’s Foodliner, Bethlehem, buyer; Ag Sec. Penrose Hallowell and Jan Waltz, of Lancaster County. buyer, Bill Fox of Fox’s Food Market, Middletown, was not to be topped and ended up paying a record $60.00 a pound for the black lamb. The bidding was fast and furious, jumping at times by $lO.OO a pound increments, which had ringside bystanders just shaking their heads in amazement. The result was a price for a 102- pound lamb which rivaled that which has been traditionally paid for the champion steer, which tips the scales at more than 10 times as much. Just as she was when her black lamb, “Ronnie,” was named grand champion, Sue Falvey’s eyes were quite moist throughout the bidding. It was almost as if each tear that streamed down her face brought another flurry in bids. Once again, it was Abe Dif fenbach, of the New Holland Sales Stables, who scripted and choreographed the record sale - just as he had done last year when the market steer was in the limelight at $12.00 a pound. And when this year’s steer sale rolled around, it was almost as if it was an anti-climax. It not only followed the record-shattering lamb sale, but had to play as an encore to last year’s unusual steer sale. And Jan Waltz’ 1260-pound grand champion from Lancaster County brought a respectable $6.00 a pound from Danny George, of George’s Foodliner, Bethlehem - another Farm Show bidding regular. But at only half of last year’s unusual $12.00 a pound winning bid, it appeared that some spec tators looked on this year’s total price of more than $7500 as something of a disappointment. The shirt-sleeve parade of the champion by Ag Sec. Penny Hallowed succeeded in raising the bid a bit more, but nothing close to last year’s level. Meanwhile, Hatfield Packing Company’s Jerry Clemens calmly went about buying the grand champion hog and a good many other head at the market swine sale. At $14.00 a pound for her champion, Juanita Kennedy, of Washington County, took home a respectable purse of more than $3300 for her Hamp-Duroc cross. But with Hatfield it’s a little bit different. While other bidders may only show up at Farm Show to buy in the statewide limelight, the men in the Smiling Porker caps are found throughout the year at numerous local fairs and roundups and thus provide continuing support for countless 4-H and FFA (Turn to Page DX3) Winning bidder for the grand champion market lamb of Farm Show of Sue Falvey is Bill Fox, left, of Fox's Food Market, Middletown, with his sons, Brian and Jeremy. Also shown are Ag Sec. Penrose Hallowed and Rep. Sam Hayes Jr. With grand champion market hog at Farm Show sale are, from the left, Juanita Kennedy, of Washington County; Jerry Clemens, purchaser for Hatfield Packing; and Chet Heim, deputy ag secretary.
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