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CADIZ - A touching moment and one of hilarity took place at the 163rd Harrison County Junior Fair livestock auction held Friday.

The 1,299-pound market steer raised by Bryant Valdinger for his cousin, Marci Pickens, diagnosed with autism, sold for $3 a pound to Odie Pickens, and the entire amount of the sale will be donated to the Transition to Work at Harrison-Belmont Career Center program, where Marci is now enrolled. Both are members of the Stitch and Hitch 4-H Club.

This was comparable with the reserve champion steer price, and a hearty round of applause was heard at the end of the transaction, while some held their breath as Valdinger led the nervous animal around the sale ring, sometimes getting crowded to the sides of the fence.

Commissioner Barbara Pincola took it in stride when she received the most votes in the county commissioner's "Kiss the Pig" contest. She brought in $74 of the $160 raised for the county 4-H committee. The pig receiving all the attention was the 269-pound grand champion raised by Carly Birney of Hopedale Town and Country 4-H Club. Commissioners Bill Host, who served as an auctioneer for the event, and Mike Vinka, appeared relieved they were spared kissing duties.

Birney's grand champion hog brought $10.25 per pound, and M&M Hardware was the buyer. The grand champion brought $5 per pound last year. Kaitlin Ellzy, Barn Buddies 4-H, received $4.75 per pound from Hopedale Mining for her 280-pound hog. The price last year was $2.75 per pound.

Both the grand and reserve champion market steers brought more than the $2.50 per pound 2008 prices.

Birney raised the 1,206-pound market steer that was purchased for $5.50 per pound by Mike and Joyce Cramer, farmers from New Washington.

Kayla Valdinger, Royal Riders 4-H, had the reserve champion market steer, purchased for $3 per pound by D&R Trucking of Shortcreek and Sugar Valley Meats.

Joyce Barr, Kountry Kids, raised the grand champion market turkey that was purchased by the Harrison County commissioners for $425. Kaci Carter, Barn Buddies, had the reserve champion market turkey purchased by Orme Hardware for $350.

Kaci Carter had the pen of two market broiler grand champions. They were purchased for $400 from Seleski Border Farms. Kyle Carter, Barn Buddies, had the reserve champions, purchased by Mike Vinka for $450.

The grand champion market ducks were raised by MJ Marchetta, Liberty Trails 4-H, sold for $225 to Vandruff Implement. The reserve champions were raised by Austin Marchetta, Liberty Trails, and purchased by Orme Hardware for $200.

Lindsay Dowdle, Green Valley 4-H, raised the grand champion pen of three market rabbits that were purchased by Mike Vinka for $275. Kaylee Wright, Country Cousins, had the reserve champion rabbits purchased by Birney auctions for $275.

Garrit Sproull had the grand champion market goat purchased by South Central Power for $695.

Tyler Horn, Barn Buddies, had the reserve champion market goat that sold for $400 to Middleburn Livestock Auctions.

Spoull had the 130- pound grand champion market lamb that sold for $6 per pound to M&M Hardware. Birney had the reserve champion that sold for $11 per pound to Cramer Farms. This topped the 2008 price of $8.

Jalyn Jones, Tri-County Showstoppers, had the grand champion steer beef feeder calf that sold for $1.55 per pound to Modern Auto Parts. Allison Dawson, Germano Community, had the grand champion dairy feeder calf that sold for $1.60 per pound to Carrollton Farmers Exchange and the reserve champion dairy beef feeder that sold for $1.50 per pound to Jefferson County Landmark.

A unique feature of the junior fair livestock auction is the sale of dairy products by the 22 youth taking dairy projects. The replica of a cast-iron pot contained Harrison County cheeses, fresh produce, a chocolate-caramel apple from Caldwell Dairy, certificate from Coffee Cake Winery; COBA calculator, dianthus flower from Moorman Hill Farms, United Dairy ice cream certificate, chocolates from Thompson Family Farms, Longaberger gift certificate from Erica Mathieu, napkin basket, butter, crackers and ice creams donated by Myron Dawson and Sons Dairy in memory of Carolyn Dawson and a T-shirt.

LeeAnna Thompson, Germano Community, received the top price of $900 from Charles Merriman; Clayton Stewart, $800, Sunnydale Farms; James Thompson, Germano Community, received $675 from Bob Stewart; Alisha Thompson, Germano Community, $650 from Kinney Thompson; Melinda Stewart, $600, Rosebud Mining. The remainder sold for between $300 and $400.

Hats were donated by Everhart Service Center, livestock banners by National City Bank and Rosebud Mining.

(McCoy can be contacted at emccoy@heraldstaronline.com.)