Building Entrepreneurs

MISSOULA - Seeley Lake Trailblazers and Potomac Valley 4-H market projects will be available for purchase at this year's Western Montana Fair 4H & FFA Livestock Sale. The market livestock sale is scheduled Saturday, Aug. 13. The steer purchased by Seeley Lake Trailblazer Mark Teague last fall before Teague passed away at age 16 will also be available for purchase. All the proceeds raised from the sale of the animal will go into a scholarship to help future 4-Hers get started on a market project.

Missoula County 4-H Agent Campbell Barrett said the process of raising and selling the students' animals not only helps the 4-Hers recover their cost into each animal, it also teaches life skills.

"Often in the student's mind [raising a market animal] is to get a paycheck," said Barrett. "I hope they also learn responsibility, financial management and goal setting."

"Many people are reluctant to support market animal sales but this is a summer job for these kids. This is how they make money for college," said Seeley Lake Trailblazer Organizational Leader Sharon Teague. "Many 4-H market animal projects are actually a business venture. They buy the animal, budget for feed and in the end sell their animal."

Luke Wilson from Potomac has been in 4-H for eight years. His first two years he raised and sold a market hog and for each of his last six years he raised and sold a steer.

Wilson purchased his steer in October from the Weaver Ranch. He spent the next 10 months feeding and working with his steer to get it ready for the fair.

"I look for a larger framed steer with a good back and good potential," said Wilson. "The whole purpose is to sell the steer."

Last year Wilson spent $2,000 in feed and it cost him just under $1,000 for his animal. His parents purchased his steer as payment for his work on the family ranch.

At the fair, Wilson's steers have averaged between 1,500-1,600 pounds. He's happy if he can get more than $2.50 per pound on the day of the sale.

Wilson said raising his steer is a summer job. After expenses Wilson puts the rest of his money into a college saving fund.

"It's a nice thing to do because it looks good on college resumes, I earn some money, it's not a whole lot of work and it keeps me busy," said Wilson.

Amanda Thomas has spent seven years raising market lambs. This is her third year of bringing one of her own lambs from her breeding project to the fair.

Prior to beginning her breeding project, Thomas paid $175 each for two lambs. Breeding her own ewes reduced her initial cost to just under $80 for the breeding fee. This year she purchased a ram for $500 so she can breed her own flock.

Last year she invested $137.38 in hay and grain for her market lambs. There were also various other costs bringing her total expenses last year to $418.

For Thomas is it less about the money and more about raising her animals and showing them at the fair that keep her coming back year after year. She said it is hard to sell her lambs after raising them from a baby.

"I try to keep separated but when you put that much time into them there is not much you can do," said Thomas.

Last year at the live auction, Thomas's lamb barely sold for what she had into it. If she didn't receive several add-ons she would not have made the $1089.50, more than $600 in profit. She reinvested that money into this year's project and put away some for college.

"Add-ons help a lot," said Thomas. "Without the businesses [and others that support the sale] the projects wouldn't be able to keep going next year."

The livestock sale starts at 8 a.m. Saturday. Those interested in purchasing an animal can attend the sale and bid on an animal; have someone go in their place and bid; and/or get a group to go in on an animal together. Anything that is paid over fair market value is a tax-deductible contribution. All of the money goes to the student who raised the animal.

After the animal is purchased, it is transported to the butcher of choice. The buyer calls the butcher with cut and wrap instructions. The butcher cut and wrap fees are not included in the sale price.

Those that would like to support the students but are not interested in the meat can contribute with an add-on. This can be a flat price or an amount per pound. The money goes directly to the student selected for the add-on and is also tax deductible. To contribute an add-on, visit the sale committee table the morning of the sale or call the sales committee prior to the auction at 406-880-0435 if not able to attend on Saturday.

"It is a grossly inflated market with kids getting prices that are not realistic outside of 4-H," said Barrett. "However, it is a good way for the community to support local kids, market projects and local agriculture."

This year Teague's steer that he purchased before he passed away will be sold at the sale. The steer was paid for by Teague from last year's 4-H earnings and the feed was donated by Mark Wilson of West Feed and the Radtke family from Hall, Mont.

"There is nothing but profit and it will all go into the Mark Teague Memorial Scholarship fund," said Mark's mother Sharon Teague.

The intent of the scholarship is to provide an annual scholarship to a Missoula County 4-H member that wants to start into a market project.

"This is our way to give back to 4-H students," said Sharon.

Barrett invites individuals and businesses that are not familiar with the market sale to attend the buyers' breakfast Saturday morning beginning at 6:30 a.m. and stay for the sale at 8 a.m.

"The more people around the sale ring, the better it is for these kids," said Barrett.