Grant Hall, a 19-year-old Graham High School graduate, sold his grand champion market steer for $5,700, one of the highest paydays at the auction.
Hall said earning overall grand champion meant a lot after 11 years in 4-H, nine of those years showing steers.
“It means a lot to me, and it means a lot to my family,” Hall said.
Before the sale of his steer, Reggie, Hall asked the auctioneer to thank those who have supported him along the way, including his father.
Hall had worked with the more than 1,300 pound Reggie since last September and he was happy to see all the hours at the barn pay off, earning $4.38 on the pound.
The money Hall earned through Reggie’s sale will be used to pay the remaining bills for Reggie and then go toward college expenses. Hall will begin his freshman year at the University of Cincinnati on Aug. 20.
Several other grand champion exhibitors saw their hard work pay off as well Friday.
Maggie Neer sold her overall grand champion market lamb for more than $3,100 while Matthew Goddard sold his grand champion dairy feeder for $1,100. Christopher Nott sold his overall champion market goat for $375.
Some sales at the fair broke from the tradition of the grand champion having the highest overall price. In the dairy feeder auction, Lauralee Lenhart sold her calf for $2,000 and in the market goat sale, the reserve grand champion goat shown by Lane Hollingsworth sold for $1,000.
The Champaign County Fair Board didn’t know Friday how the day’s sales compared to 2011. Final attendance numbers for the week weren’t finalized by Friday.
The fair ended Friday evening with the MuleSkinner Band performing in Lions Park and the Demolition Derby on the grandstand.
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