Cactus 4H clubs’ virtual sale a success

Alberta Newspaper Group

It was a big weekend for 4H groups in Medicine Hat and the surrounding area.

Five clubs held annual steer sales and one 4H member sold a steer to support HALO.

“This was one big sale and we sold 37 steers,” said Cactus Country 4H key leader Shirley Elliott. “These really sold well this year, because we had 65 buyers registered for those animals.

“I think we averaged around $3.30 or $3.40 per pound which is a really good number to be at.”

The 4H members buy a steer around Remembrance Day then feed them for around 200 days before selling them at auction. Elliott says there is a lot to learn while raising a steer.

“They have to feed them twice every day for about 200 days,” she said. “The kids train the steers and halter break them – that’s really tough work.

“They want those finished animals to go in a deep freeze by the middle of June.”

Because of COVID-19, the 4H members were not able to be at the auction live to see the sale. The event was streamed on Facebook for 4H members to watch in anticipation.

“It was definitely different this year,” said Elliott. “It worked out well and we’re proud of what everyone accomplished this year.”

Giving back

The weekend also marked the sale of this year’s charity steer, with all proceeds going to HALO.

The steer sold for a total of $24,235, with multiple people purchasing the animal, then re-donating it to be bought again.

Like every year, the charity steer is a team effort by the 4H groups. Waylon Watson from the Generations of Tomorrow club raised the steer on his ranch.

“We got the charity steer and it was donated to us by Neubauer Farms,” said Watson. “I was in charge of grooming him and feeding him twice a day. My job was to get him ready for the sale – if we had one.”

Watson watched the sale on Facebook like the rest of his peers and says he was excited to see the steer sell for so much money. He says he is proud to help a cause as important as HALO.

The area’s 4H clubs have sold the steer for charity for the past six years and have raised more than $100,000 for HALO.

“HALO is such an important cause for the area,” said Elliott. “We’ve been supporting them for years and we’re proud to do so.”