The Carbon County 4-H Livestock Club held its 60th annual 4-H livestock sale Saturdayat the Carbon County Fair.

The sale attracted many previous livestock buyers including local businesses such as Hometown Farmers Market, Marie's Lunch, Palmerton Garage Door, Fritz Financial Group and more.As always, the buyers had the option to pay full price and take the animal home or participate in the "buyback program" where the buyer chooses not to take the animal and pays the difference between the market value and the final bid. There was a mix of these two options throughout the auction."Many people don't want to take the animals home, so the buyback option is nice," said Kristin Simmons, a 4-H Livestock Club leader.The auction began with the 4-H pledge, announcement of the various awards, the reserve champion animal auction, and an auction of a wooden tractor and wagon and two wall hangings made from last year's quilt block contest. Among the animals up for auction were six pens of meat rabbits, market steer, market swine, dairy beef, goats, lambs, roosters and ducks. Many had been awarded grand champion or reserve champion.The 4-H Livestock Club members have spent countless hours preparing their animals for show, and for the final auction.An important theme running through the preparation of the livestock is "responsibility," said Andy Fogel, 16, of Lehighton, who brought a Reserve Champion steer to the auction.The 4-H members needed to make sure the animals were clean, had no dirt and were made presentable to show.All the money from the sales goes back to the 4-H members."Many of them set the money aside for college or put it toward the purchase of animals for next year," Simmons said.DLM, consisting of Dana Dee and Laverne Merk, has bought pigs before at the auction, and they chose the buyback optionbecause they have no place to put the pigs."We go together to support the 4-H," said Merk. Dee has family involved as well."Many businesses like to buy the grand champions so they can bring the banner to their business, and for advertisement, and it supports 4-H," Simmons said.Tim and Doug Houser returned as auctioneers, adding the usualexciting atmosphere to the auction."They make it fun," says Simmons.The 4-H members and their award winning livestock and buyers of the animals are:• Market Steer Grand Champion, Molly Mertz, 16, Mahoning Valley. It is her eighth year in 4-H and has market lamb and steer. The market value of her grand champion steer was $1,517.40. Randy Hill, bought it for $3,600, buyback.• Grand Champion hog, Ryanne Hoffman, 16, Mahoning Valley. It is her eighth year in 4-H, she did hogs and steer. Market value of the hog was $118.44. It was purchased by Robert Dunn of Hometown Farmers Market for $1,100.• Grand champion Dairy Beef, Kyle Troxell, 14, Lehighton. It is his eighth year in 4-H. Market valueis $543.60. Walck's 4WD bought it for $1,500.• Market Goat Grand Champion, Shayla Conner, 16, Lehighton. The market valueis $170. Robert Dunn bought it on behalf of Palmerton Garage for $640.• Grand Champion Market Lamb, Molly Mertz. Market price is $194.30, bought by Marie's Lunch for $710, buyback.• Grand Champion Pen of Meat Rabbits, Lydia Gowin, 12, Lehighton. Market price is $16.50, Dale's Concessions bought for $260.• Supreme Champion Drake, Alyssa Myers, 12, Lehighton. It is her fourth year in 4-H. Bought by William Schwab for buyback.• Supreme Champion Hen-rooster, Karissa Costenbader, 15, Palmerton. Costenbader also does goats. Bought by ABC Refrigeration, Todd Dreisbach for $270.• Tractor and Wagon made by Mark and Karen Green. Money to benefit Carbon County Fair Fund. Bought together for $500 by ABC Refrigeration.• Reserve Champion Market Steer, Andy Fogel, 16, East Penn Township. Market value is $1,554.12. Bought by Richard Knadler and Chester Snyder for $3,000.• Reserve Champion Market Hog, Dawson Keiser, 10, Lehighton. Market value is $110.46. Bought by DLM for $850.• Reserve Champion Dairy Beef, Chelsea Eckhart, 16, Lehighton. Market value is $584.10. Bought by Randy Hill for $1,260 to keep.• Reserve Champion Market Goat, Tia Tyson, 14, Lehighton. Market value is $138. Bought by Cory Fritz for $850 to keep.• Reserve Champion Market Lamb, Alex Hawk, 15, Mahoning Township. Market value is $200.10. Bought for $700 by Herman Snyder, another longtime supporter.• Reserve Champion Pen of Meat Rabbits, Ethan Glawe, 15, Lehighton. Market value is $11. Bought by Miller Charm Farms, Randy and Cathie Miller for $220, buyback.• Reserve Champion Rooster-Drake, Chelsea Eckhart. Bought for $370 by Herman Snyder.• Reserve Champion Hen-Pekin Duck, Chelsea Eckhart. Bought for $280 by Dale's Concessions.• Wall Hangings made from last year's quilt block contest. Bought for $290 a piece by Beth Provinzono and the other by state Rep. Doyle Heffley. Money supports the fair's youth program.