SEQUIM — Turkeys, pigs, steer and more went for big dollars at the Clallam County Junior Livestock Auction.
In its 31st year, conducted Aug. 6 at the Sequim Prairie Grange, 44 children ranging in age from 5 to 18 and hailing from Sequim and Port Angeles, auctioned their animals to help with agricultural projects, schooling and more.
Organizers held the event by the grange’s outdoor kitchen with dozens of pens, bleachers and a big show area.
“It’s a great venue,” auction president Nicole Murray said. “We love the community support.”
Total earnings were unavailable by press time.
With the auction starting in the afternoon heat, the children did their best to keep their animals cool. Haley Petty, 17, of Agnew used a fan for her rabbit Roast, and others used ice and frozen water bottles.
Pig owners, such as Addisyn Tate, 11, of Sequim used squirt bottles. This was her third year auctioning pigs and second year naming them after cartoon characters. Last year, she named her pigs Tom and Jerry, and this year Tramp (from “Lady and the Tramp”).
She has next year’s names picked already, she said, with “Lighting McQueen and Tow Mater” (from “Cars”).
Some of the children plan to auction more animals at the Clallam County Fair through the Pacific Northwest Junior Livestock Auction at noon on Aug. 20 in the swine area.
The Clallam County Junior Livestock Auction is formerly affiliated with the fair. The nonprofit organization is available to children in Clallam and Jefferson counties.
For more information, visit facebook.com/CCJuniorlivestockAuction or clallamcountyjuniorlivestockauction.com, or call 360-460-7593.
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Matthew Nash is a reporter with the Olympic Peninsula News Group, which is composed of Sound Publishing newspapers Peninsula Daily News, Sequim Gazette and Forks Forum. Reach him at mnash@sequimgazette.com.