EDMONTON – The first ever multi-breed Headliner Sale at Farmfair International kicked off with a bang.
A Limousin heifer calf owned by Ivy Livestock of Duchess, Alta., sold for $37,000 to Y2K Land and Cattle Co. of Ontario with a bid over the telephone.
“We’re ecstatic. No, dumbfounded,” said Mary Hertz, who had hoped the heifer, owned by her son, Brandon, would sell for $12,000 to $15,000.
It was the high seller at the sale.
Brandon had to leave the show early for a volleyball game, but the smile on his older brother Tyson’s face got bigger as the price got higher.
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Hertz said it was a tough decision for Limousin breeders to forego their successful sale normally held at Farmfair and adopt the new all-breeds Headliner show and sale.
“The pair has had a lot of wins this summer. They’ve never been beat.”
Half interest in the mother was sold last year and the mother and daughter pair won the grand champion female Limousin at Farmfair.
Hertz said they will put the cow into a flushing program in an attempt to produce more winning calves.
The Headliner Sale added $25,000 to the purse this year as a way to encourage participation.
The money went to both buyers and sellers of the cattle, which were sold before judges announced their results.
“I thought it was a great opportunity for the breeds that didn’t have enough animals to hold a show at Farmfair,” Hertz said.
Ken Hehr of Ponoka, Alta., entered two Shorthorn heifers in the sale as a way to generate excitement in the Shorthorn breed and to try winning back some of his entry fee.
“It gets some exposure and brings some strong genes into the sale,” he said.
It had been five years since the last Shorthorn sale was held at Farmfair.
Tom Steward of Falun, Alta. , entered an open Charolais heifer as a way to advertise and show off his cattle.
“This brings all the cattle breeds together and it brings the people in,” he said.
The last Charolais sale at Farmfair was held in 2006 in conjunction with the World Charolais Congress.
“It’s just one more way to advertise as a producer.”
Barbara Gotass of Big Island Lowlines said she supported the sale.
“I thought it was a good concept. We’d do it again. We got the price we were looking for.”
Their cow sold for $2,400 and the calf sold for $1,100.
Randy Mader of Mader Ranches sold two black Simmental heifers and bought one during the sale.
Mader, a long-time exhibitor at Farmfair, said he was pleased when the idea of a multibreed sale was first floated.
“Farmfair has done a great job in improving the show. They’re really looking after the livestock people this year very well. They’re making it
work for the exhibitor.”
He said the concept seems to have worked, judging by the strong prices and the number of people in the stands.
“I’m pleased with the excitement it’s created,” he said.
“BSE took a lot of the fun out of this business. I’m hoping this will be a revival of interest.”
At 60, Mader said he doesn’t need to work the show circuit any more, but his son and daughter-in-law are interested in showing cattle and he wants to encourage it.
A LIMOUSIN HEIFER CALF OWNED BY IVY LIVESTOCK SOLD FOR
“My big hope for the revival of agriculture is our kids.”
Thirty-nine lots of cattle were entered into the sale and sold for $198,000 to average $5,092.
The judges didn’t pick the high selling calf as the winner of the competition.
Instead, they picked a bred heifer owned by Miller Wilson Angus. Miller Wilson and the buyer of the heifer received $5,000 each.
Second place was an open heifer consigned by Hamilton Farms. The buyer and seller each received $2,500.
The judges placed Ivy Livestock’s high selling Limousin heifer in third place. The buyer and seller each received $1,250.
In fourth place was an open Limousin heifer owned by Greenwood Livestock. The buyer and seller each received $1,000.
Judges placed another Limousin, an open heifer, consigned by Payne Livestock, in fifth. The buyer and seller received $750.
The buyers and sellers of the top 18 animals, as placed by the judges, received $100.
SEE PHOTO OF THE HEADLINER SALE, PAGE 81.
