Bid of support at livestock show

Making it to the livestock show is considered an honor, according to Trent Bilberry, 4-H intern at the Roosevelt County Extension Office.

CMI photo: Christina Calloway

Jasi Roberts stands with her first place dairy cow, which she sold for $4,000 Friday night at the Roosevelt County Fair Junior Livestock Sale. Fifty-four youths participated in the show.

Bilberry said it's one of the biggest nights in the year for the many youth who worked hard with their animals to make the sale.

The 54 Roosevelt County students who participated in Friday night's Junior Livestock Sale drew community support as they auctioned off their hard work at the Roosevelt County Fair.

Extension office officials said collectively, the students made about $165,000 with that figure is expected to climb after add-ons — leftover bidder money tacked onto sales. Last year, sales nearly reaches $200,000.

Lindsey Lee, a junior at Dora High School, said whatever money she made from the sale of her dairy heifer would go to her savings for college. Lee plans to study nursing at Clovis Community College.

"I'm aiming for $3,500 tonight," Lee said with an eager smile.

She has been participating in Arch's 4-H and Dora's Future Farmers of America for nearly 10 years. Lee says she's passionate about the work she does.

"I love to be around animals," said Lee, who primarily works with dairy cows and pigs. "It's just my comfort."

Jasi Roberts, a Dora senior, is also a student who plans to save her earnings from the sale of her animal for higher education.

Roberts made $4,000 from her dairy cow. The market price of the cow was $648.

"It was very exciting to hear the price keep climbing," Roberts said.

She's been working with her cow since June and said she spent two days looking for the perfect cow.

Once Roberts chose her prized cow, she worked with it for at least one to two hours a day. She said caring for the animal teaches a great deal of responsibility.

Bryce Bohm, 13, of Portales sold his pig that he had been working with since the beginning of the summer for $2,700.

CMI photo: Christina Calloway

Lindsey Lee of Dora presents her dairy heifer to the bidding crowd at the Roosevelt County Fair Junior Livestock Sale.

He said he plans to use his money to buy another animal for next year. Bohm said he's looking forward to possibly working with a cow.

Bohm was grateful for the community members who bought his pig and invited them to bid higher next year.

After an evening of fast-paced bidding, cheering and community love, students said they would be back next year.

Bilberry said it's that attitude that proves participating in the livestock sale is a big confidence booster for these students.

"They work hard all year getting their animals ready," Bilberry said. "Buyers see an importance in these kids. These kids are our future and I think the community wants them to be successful."