The frenzy of the fair may have subsided, but plenty of hustle and bustle could still be found at Monday's annual 4-H Livestock Auction at the Allen County Fairgrounds.

More than 200 livestock buyers and sellers gathered as more than 230 animals, pairs of animals and animal products were sold to the “Hups” and “Yahs” of lightning-tongued auctioneers.

Always a major boost to 4-H'ers who raise and show quality market animals at the county fair, sales from this year's auction totaled more than $120,000.

The auction for the first time helped put needed meat into the mouths of hungry families. Businesses and buyers could donate the animals they bought to the Community Harvest Food Bank, County Extension Educator Michael Talbott said.

Lyle Voneran, a farmer from Monroeville, made his first visit to a livestock auction Monday and said he was a fan of the atmosphere - especially the quick-quipped auctioneers.

“Some just can talk so fast, it's hard to keep up,” he said.

Voneran planned to buy goats from brother-and-sister pair Dalton and Victoria Moore because he sold them the baby goats for their 4-H projects this year. He'll donate his purchases to the food bank, he said.

“I'm here to support the kids. They put a lot of work into their show animals for the fair, and I'm helping them support the community,” he said. “So it's a win-win.”

For some sellers the auction was bittersweet as they said goodbye to their animals. For others it was strictly business as usual.

Lindsey Schaefer, 16, of Fort Wayne, has been showing and selling pigs and cows for seven years. In the past she's made $500-$600 for each of her show pigs and $1,300 to $1,400 for each of her show steers. This year she won reserve champion for carcass barrow and overall steer; this year's highlight, however, was presenting her photography and winning the Showman of Showmen competition for her pig. That same pig banked her $600 Monday.

“I used to get upset and cry over my animals at the auction, but now that I'm older I understand better,” she said. “That money's going to the bank and into my savings.”

Joey Corbat, 12, of Fort Wayne, had one lamb and four chickens in this year's auction. “It doesn't bother me to sell my animals,” he said. “I'd get too attached if I named them, so I don't.” A member of 4-H for four years, Corbat has been showing and auctioning his livestock for just as long.

“My aunt knew a man who sold sheep, so he gave me one for free my first year of showing and it kind of just took off from there,” Joey said.

“We sent out letters to businesses about the auction this year so hopefully they'll remember me.”

Corbat said he buys his livestock from private sellers, but for him, showing and selling his animals isn't all about the money.

“I've learned a lot so far through 4-H, and I'm only getting better,” he said.

Categories	Amounts	Units
Pigs	$34,649	67
Dairy beef	$33,950	3
Poultry	$18,465	71
Beef	$7,500	3
Sheep	$4,825	15
Rabbits	$7,325	19
Goats	$7,511	28
Dairy milk	$5,900	28

Total $120,406

Category totals are based on bid figures at 7 p.m. Monday. Some bids were later increased, leading to a total slightly higher than the sum of the categories. This adjusted total is also a preliminary number.

Highest bids on auctioned animals:

Category	Record	Year
Beef steer	$6,900	2003
Broiler chickens	$1,550	2000
Dairy milk	$5,900	2008
Dairy steer	$2,930	2002
Feeder calf	$2,000	2004
Goat	$1,825	2005
Goat milk	$800	2005
Hog	$6,300	2002
Rabbit, fryer	$1,115	2004
Rabbit, roaster	$1,750	2008
Rabbit, stewer	$2,200	2002
Sheep	$2,700	2003
Turkey	$850	2005