Sonoma County Fair auction helps raise kids, values, money

The top bid for a lamb at this year's Junior Livestock Auction at the Sonoma County Fair soared to a record-breaking $80 a pound Sunday for a black lamb raised by Santa Rosa FFA member Karina Lochner of Sebastopol.

The bid was made by Fresh Pressed Flower Cards of Sebastopol, owned by Karina's mother, Jan Lochner, who also made a record-breaking bid of $56 a pound for her daughter's second lamb, a commercial crossbreed, during the auction in the Wilford Ring.

'It's been a lot of work ... but it's been worth it every step of the way,' said Karina, 18, who studied in the agriculture program at Santa Rosa High and plans on taking a gap year. 'I spent three hours every day, feeding, training and exercising them.'

Previously, the record price paid for a market lamb was $55 a pound, made in 2012 by Teejay Lowe, CEO of G&G Supermarkets and current Sonoma County Fair Board President.

'When the bidding went past 50, I couldn't believe it,' said Lowe, who attended the 9 a.m. auction alongside a bevy of bidders, plus 4-H Club members dressed in white and green, and FFA students in royal blue jackets.

The gross auction numbers for lambs, goats and rabbits exceeded $430,000. Total sales for lambs was $365,961, goats fetched $50,318 and rabbit meat pen sales were $16,300.

Raising money was not the only incentive at the auction, where exhibitors entered 229 lambs, 44 goats and 48 rabbits.

First-time lamb exhibitor Jason Nigro, 11, of Steuben 4-H, learned to take responsibility for an animal.

'It's done so much for him,' said his great-grandmother, Wanda Nigro of Petaluma. 'He's learned respect, how to work with animals and how to work with groups.'

As his time drew near to enter the ring, Jason kissed his lamb on the head a few times, then clung to the 138-pound animal as the bidding began.

'That's a big, old lamb and you're a little guy,' the auctioneer said, kicking off the bidding process, which rose to $8 a pound.

At the other end of the spectrum, Healdsburg Future Farmers of America President Emma Manoukian remained cool and calm as she prepared to enter the ring for her 10th and final year as an exhibitor. Her lamb drew a bid of $10 a pound.

'It's taught me life skills, work ethic and how to manage money,' the 18-year-old said.

'A lot of kids apply for a loan to buy the animals and feed them. After the auction, they pay it back.'

Manoukian is headed to Cal Poly in San Luis Obispo to study agriculture business. She said the Healdsburg FFA exhibitors were given a boost by their Healdsburg High agriculture teacher, Wesley Hunt, who inspected their lambs over the summer and came to the auction to help out.

'She comes here as our adviser, making sure we're in the ring,' Manoukian said.

For the third year in a row, Owen Clark , 15, of Green Valley 4-H, a sophomore at Sonoma Academy, raised a market lamb judged the supreme champion as well as the 4-H grand champion.

The supreme champion market goat was raised by Justine Bowers of Forestville FFA and sold for $14 a pound. Jarden Varville of Steuben 4-H raised the 4-H grand champion, while Savannah Schell from Sonoma FFA raised the goat selling for the highest price per pound, at $30.

Morgan Sceales of Harvest 4-H raised the champion rabbit meat pen, which sold for $1,000.

The animals auctioned off will head to the slaughterhouse and butcher. Buyers can keep the meat, donate it or resell it to the fair at market price.

The hog and poultry auctions are scheduled Friday, while the beef auction is Saturday.

Staff writer Diane Peterson can be reached at 521-5287 or diane.peterson@pressdemocrat.com. On Twitter @dianepete56