Livestock

Christopher Thomas, of Boonsboro, has entered five beef cattle in the 33rd annual North American International Livestock Exposition. The exposition is to be held Nov. 4-17 in Louisville, Ky.

MERCERSBURG, Pa. - James Buchanan High School's FFA Agricultural Sales team - Garrett Rice, Garrison Pleasanter, Stephanie Jones and Julie St. Clair - won a silver medal in the national competition. In the event, the team did a sales presentation on selling a 317 John Deere Skid Steer. They also had to answer 50 multiple choice questions on agriculture sales and marketing. Each student had individual practicum on customer relations - solving a customer's problem. They also had a group project involving a market analysis and sales situation, in which they were judged on their ability to work together in solving and presenting the situation.

CHARLESTON, W.Va. - West Virginia is among six states included in an expanded federal livestock program, allowing 11,000 cattle producers in the Mountain State to protect themselves against a drop in prices for a specific feeding or grazing period, Commissioner of Agriculture Gus R. Douglass said. Feeder cattle, fed cattle and swine are included in the program, and policies should be available this month, Douglass said. "These programs will help West Virginia farmers better control their bottom lines from year to year," he said.

Livestock auction culminates year of hard work By ANDREA BROWN-HURLEY / Staff Writer There were steers, cheers and a few tears Friday at the Ag Expo, as Washington County 4-H members parted with their animals during the Market Animal Sale. The Expo's crowning event began with applause for the auction's two-legged participants, who crowded into the auction ring. "Right here in this ring is our future," said volunteer auctioneer Jack Downin. He shared the microphone with fellow auctioneers Jim Cochran and John Downin to speed-pitch the lengthy line-up of livestock that 4-H'ers raised during the past year.

Shane Heizer of Hagerstown entered two head of Angus cattle in the beef division of the 38th annual North American International Livestock Exhibition. The event is recognized as the world's largest purebred livestock show with more than 23,000 entries and nearly $700,000 in prizes and awards. It is scheduled for Nov. 15 to 18 at the Kentucky Exposition Center in Louisville, Ky. For more information, go to www.livestockexpo.org .

Colleen Cashell, executive director of USDA's Farm Service Agency in Washington County, has announced that sign-up has begun for the new Livestock Compensation Program. This ad hoc disaster program provides benefits to farmers who suffered losses to livestock feed caused by natural disasters in recent years. "Between 2005 and early 2007, many agricultural producers across the country experienced financial difficulties as the result of devastating drought, floods, blizzards, tornadoes and other natural disasters," Cashell said.

The escape of four heifers and a cow from a Hagerstown livestock auction house sent local police scrambling Wednesday and early Thursday. The final heifer was caught Thursday after it was tranquilized near Frederick Street, according to Hagerstown police. One animal had to be shot and three others were tranquilized so they could be captured, said Jim Starliper, co-owner of Four States Livestock Auction on First Street. The final one, a black heifer, was at large until late afternoon Thursday, when Starliper said it had been seen near Old Forge Road.

HARRISBURG, Pa. - The 2005 Sale of Champions and Junior Livestock Sale proved a resounding success last Tuesday at the 89th Pennsylvania Farm Show. Followed by the presentation of 24 Farm Show Scholarships, the Sale of Champions kicked off with the offering of the Grand Champion Swine exhibited by Hunter Hood of Adams County. The 248-pound Crossbred sold to Hatfield Quality Meats for $5,000, an increase of $500 from last year's auction. Selling for $2,000 to Westfield Insurance, the 255-pound Reserve Champion Pig was a purebred Spot gilt shown by Lexie Matthews of Washington County.

The 72nd annual Spring Swine Show took place Feb. 16 at Four States Livestock Sales in Hagerstown through the generosity of Jim and Barb Starliper. Blaine Brown of Elizabethtown, Pa., served as the judge for the event, which drew 100 spectators. Fifty-six hogs were exhibited by 17 Washington County 4-H/FFA exhibitors. Brown began the day evaluating the youth on their showmanship abilities, followed by the market show. Fourteen exhibitors showed in the showmanship categories.

Cool Pines Farm in Hagerstown has entered four beef heifers in the Angus division of the 39th annual North American International Livestock Exposition, scheduled for Nov. 3 to 16 in Louisville, Ky. The event takes place at the Kentucky Exposition Center in Louisville. Shane Heizer, 17, will be showing the four Angus heifers at the expo. Heizer is a senior at Smithsburg High School and also takes courses at Hagerstown Community College through its ESSENCE program. He will graduate in June and hopes to attend either Oklahoma State University or Kansas State University and major in animal science and agribusiness.