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Festival's Beef Sale Boasts Generous Buyers

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By GEORGE H. NEWMAN

gnewman@tampatrib.com

Published: March 18, 2009

PLANT CITY - Students from 4-H and FFA clubs across the area reaped some reward for the hard work they put into preparing for the annual Florida Strawberry Festival steer show and auction.
Festival officials said the 109 students are expected to share more than $450,000 from the March 7 auction. That is, on average, more than $3.60 per pound, on the hoof. The current market value for beef on the hoof is about 62 cents locally.

"We don't have the totals for the auction completed," said Jim Jeffries, festival treasurer and director. "Following the auction each year companies and individuals will often add on dollars to a particular sale to increase the value received by the student. We expect to exceed $500,000 when the add-ons are included."

Exhibitors are allowed to use the money made at auction to pay for educational expenses such as college and trade schools.

Leading those benefiting from the sale was FFA exhibitor Darren Turner, a Plant City High School student. Turner showed the steer judged grand champion during the March 4 youth steer show.

Ron Hall, a representative of Mosaic, the national leader in the production of fertilizer material, was the high bidder on Turner's 1,225 pound steer. The winning bid was $11 per pound. The total paid by Mosaic for just that one steer was $13,475. That is about $12,617 above the normal market price.

Hall, a lifelong resident in Plant City, is responsible for land management for Mosaic. He has worked in the industry for 30 years.

"This is my second year representing Mosaic at the Florida Strawberry Festival auctions," Hall said. "We are proud to support our youth in Central Florida who participate in FFA, 4-H and other youth organizations. They are the future of farming and the future of our nation."

Hall used Mosaic dollars to buy seven steers at the festival auction. He also purchased four pigs at the Feb. 27 festival swine sale.

"The company also sent me to the DeSoto and Hardee County fairs to do the same thing," Hall said. "Other company representatives participated in livestock sales at the Polk, Manatee and Sarasota County fairs."

About 70 companies and individuals cast bids for the steers, which were raised and shown by the youths.

"It's great to see how the businesses and people in and around Plant City support the kids in 4-H and FFA," Jeffries said.

Jerrod Parker, the division 2 reserve champion, drew the second highest bid. His 1,164 pound steer received a $11,640 bid from Dennis Newsome. Central Maintenance & Welding paid $6 per pound for the reserve grand champion steer exhibited by Katlyn Messick. Her steer weighed 1,264 pounds and brought $7,584.

All of the steer exhibitors received at least $2 per pound at the auction.

The remaining exhibitors of the top 10 steers were: Derrick Knight; Jesse Wall; Haley Ours; Zachary Lloyd; Jordan Butts; Jeffery Hall; Garrett Roberts and Alicia Gilbertson.

"All of us involved in the agriculture shows at the Strawberry Festival appreciate the important role of our sponsors and livestock buyers," Jeffries said. "Through their efforts a substantial contribution is made to the students who exhibit livestock."

The livestock show moved this year to a new area on the festival grounds. Festival General Manager Paul Davis said he thought the visitors attending the agricultural exhibits enjoyed the expanded quarters.

"The arenas were larger this year and the facilities for the exhibitors were designed to be more user-friendly," Davis said. "We were pleased. The FFA and 4-H kids had more room to spread out as they prepared their animals. We provided a lunch room and additional washing areas for the exhibitors. The facility was improved all around."

Reporter George H. Newman can be reached at (813) 865-4451.

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