SLV Fair concludes with the Junior Livestock Auction

File photo Kaysen Johnson sold his Grand Champion Market Beef for $16,000 to the Monte Vista Coop at the SLV Fair's Junior Livestock Auction on Friday, Aug. 12.

MONTE VISTA — The SLV Fair comes once a year to Monte Vista. Children and adults from the San Luis Valley show their homemade projects and or livestock animals raised for the week-long event.

On Thursday, Aug. 11, the Market Goat and Beef Shows took centerstage in the Livestock Pavillion of the Ski-Hi Complex. Earlier in the week, the Market Swine, Lamb, and Rabbit Shows were held. The shows culminate with the Junior Livestock Auction on Friday night.

In addition to determining a grand champion for each show, showmanship is an integral part of the fair and awards are given out in three age groups — Junior ages 8-10, Intermediate ages 11-13, and Senior ages 14-18.

Reese Anderson, who was showing goats in the Senior Division, said it was her sixth year attending the fair.

“I have been attending the fair every year since I was 8 years old. I am 14 now, and I think it’s pretty cool,” Anderson said. “Today, I have been washing goats and getting them ready for tonight’s show. To enter a goat, you have to feed them a certain amount of food and get them to an acceptable weight for the show. It's a lot of hard work but I really enjoy it, it’s fun.”   

Grand Champion Goat Showmanship awards were awarded on Thursday. Anderson was the Senior Grand Champion. Jocelynn Malouff was the Intermediate Grand Champion, and Khaleesi Reynolds was awarded the Junior Grand Champion.

In Market Beef Showmanship, Grand Champion Senior was Kortney Johnson and Grand Champion Intermediate was Trace Johnson.

The Junior Livestock Auction was on Friday, Aug. 12. The Grand Champion livestock led off the auction. Corbin Myers’ Grand Champion Market Lamb was purchased by Consaul Farms for $2,700.

Anderson sold her Grand Champion Market Goat for $1,900 to Consaul Farms.

Elaina Consaul sold her Grand Champion Market Swine for $4,000 to Roxanne Sittler.

Leah Sirocham sold her Grand Champion Market Rabbit for $500 to Lincoln West.

Kaysen Johnson sold his Grand Champion Market Beef for $16,000 to the Monte Vista Coop.

The fair can be a time of mixed emotions for exhibitors, who have worked hard on their projects for months.

Emily Seger sold a lamb at the auction and said this time of year can be tough.

“It is sad sometimes because you do get attached,” Seger said. “I generally try to pick one that I don’t really care for, and this year it’s Picco, but being honest I will probably cry a little for Picco, too. My dad has always raised livestock, him and his brothers, so this is all passed down. I really love it. I won Grand Champion for Intermediate Sheep Showmanship, and Bred Fed. It’s been really fun this year we have had a good fair, but yes, I am taking Picco to the Auction. I sell a lamb every year and this year it’s him.”

For more information on the San Luis Valley Fair, visit slvfair.com.


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