A year of disappointments for 4-H livestock club members ended with unexpected elation during their annual livestock auction at the Carbon County Fair on Saturday.

More bidders showed up than anticipated, and their seriousness to purchase the nurtured animals was obvious from the get-go.

Last year’s auction (and fair) was canceled due to the pandemic, meaning some 4-H members had no buyers last year for their projects. As a result, some usual participants were apprehensive about buying the animals this year. Since they’re purchased in fall and winter, the future of this year’s fair was still uncertain.

So competitive was the bidding that some of the grand champions fetched more than 10 times their market value.

4-H leader Diane Miller-Graver said, “I’m glad. These kids missed out last year so I’m happy with the bids they received.”

First to walk into the fair ring for the auction was Kyle Nothstein with his 1,224-pound grand champion steer. Nothstein, who likely weighs slightly more than a tenth of that weight, led the black animal around the ring, and the steer stayed by his side and walked almost as if he knew he was the best of show.

The market value of the steer was listed at $1,407.60, but it was purchased by Mark Schwaln of Breezewood Farms in Mahoning Township for a whopping $6,100.

Next in the ring was Haley Fritz, age 18, who had the grand champion swine. The black pig with a natural pink collar made a dash into the ring, then calmly let Fritz show her off. Although valued at $212, Forrest Inn Storage, owned by Robert and Barbara Getz, purchased it for $3,700.

The champions and reserve champions, market value in parenthesis and bid prices are as follows:

• Grand champion steer, Kyle Nothstein, 1,224 pounds ($1,407.60) $6,100 by Mark Schwaln of Breezewood Farms.

• Grand champion swine, Haley Fritz, 265 pounds ($212), $3,700 by Forrest Inn Storage.

• Grand champion dairy beef, Alyssa Myers, 632 pounds ($486.64), $3,750 by C. K. Troxell Farm.

• Grand champion lamb, Amanda Gowin, 121 pounds ($272.25), $2,500 pounds by Hometown Farmers Market.

• Grand Champion goat, Toby Tyson, 101 pounds ($303), $3,100 by Randy Hill Wildlife Taxidermy.

• Supreme champion poultry male, Amanda Gowin, pekin duck, (market value unknown), $600 by Fresh Cut Landscaping, part of the Service Team.

• Supreme champion poultry female, Eva Eroh, hen (market value unknown), $1,000 by Heintzelman’s Meat Market.

• Grand champion pen of meat rabbits, Lydia Gowin, 15 pounds ($16.50), $1,100 by Andrea Dunn.

• Reserve champion steer, Jesse Fogel, 1,272 pounds ($1,462.80), $2,500 by Hometown Farmers Market.

• Reserve champion swine, Cheyenne Whiteman, 262 pounds ($209.60), $3,100 by Randy Hill Wildlife Taxidermy.

• Reserve champion dairy beef, Morgan Myers, 655 pounds ($504.35), $7,300 by JBM Mechanical.

• Reserve champion lamb, Daphne Gowin, 94 pounds ($211.50), $1,300 by Leiby’s Ice Cream.

• Reserve champion goat, Taylor Fritz, 79 pounds, ($237), $2,100 by Forest Inn Masonry.

• Reserve champion poultry male, Daphne Gowin, (market value unknown), $800 by Dorothy Troxell.

• Reserve champion poultry female, Daphne Gowin, (market value unknown), $975 by Mauch Chunk Trust Company.

• Reserve champion pen of meat rabbits, Heidi Dages, 11.75 pounds ($12.93), $800 by Remmey Pallet.

There were a total of 41 entries sold during the auction.

Some handmade items were also sold as fundraisers for the 4-H program.

Haley Fritz was announced as the Floyd and James Smith Memorial Scholarship recipient. The scholarship was donated by Robert and Barbara Getz in memory of the Smiths.

The auctioneer was Tim Houser of Houser Auctioneers, West Penn Township. He said his family has been donating auctioneering services for the 4-H program at the fair for well over 50 years.

The announcer was Dwane Miller of the Penn State Extension Service.