Reagan Parsons, right, stands in the ring as her grand champion market steer is auctioned during the Wood County Junior Livestock Sale Saturday at the Wood County 4-H Camp in Mineral Wells. Her brother Colton is holding the champion banner. (Photo by Evan Bevins)

MINERAL WELLS — Blennerhassett FFA member Jordyne Lockhart put in some additional work to drum up interest in her market rabbits at Saturday’s Wood County Junior Livestock Sale.

As the 50th anniversary auction got underway, Lockhart made her way around the Show Barn at the Wood County 4-H Camp, offering free samples of rabbit meat tacos and pledging that if someone bought her rabbits, she would process them herself at the slaughterhouse where she works.

“We just thought it would help increase some of our profit,” she said. “People really like the rabbit meat. I’ve already had a couple people look in the book and mark my name down to bid on my animals.”

The 50th anniversary edition of the livestock sale brought to a close the Wood County 4-H and FFA Summer Showcase on Saturday.

Saulsbury 4-H Club member Reagan Parsons’ grand champion market steer led off the bidding, with Brown Asphalt buying the 1,358-pound animal for $4,753, or $3.50 a pound.

Belleville 4-H member Layton Sharpe tries to rouse her hog, Ava, before the Wood County Junior Livestock Sale Saturday at the 4-H camp in Mineral Wells. (Photo by Evan Bevins)

“It’s pretty awesome to know that hard work pays off,” said Parsons, who has been showing animals in 4-H for eight years.

Students start out caring for their animals and preparing them for the showcase and sale nearly a year in advance.

“In 4-H, they learn so much; they learn life skills, responsibility,” said Jodi Smith, 4-H agent with the West Virginia University Extension. The showcase and auction “is a nice way for them to wind down their year.”

Blennerhassett FFA member Jeremiah Sharp has been showing animals for nine years. He said he enjoys the “excitement of showing off an animal, showing off your hard work.”

Belleville 4-H member Layton Sharpe showed a 283-pound hog named Ava this year.

Kaelyn Clark sits with her feeder steer, Duke, left and fellow Blennerhassett FFA member Jeremiah Blackwell’s steer Ash in the Show Barn at the Wood County 4-H Camp during Saturday’s Junior Livestock Sale. (Photo by Evan Bevins)

“She’s bull-headed. She’s hard to work with,” Sharpe said before adding, “We’ve been working hard together. She’s probably one of my favorite pigs that I’ve ever had.”

Sharpe said she started raising pigs with her grandmother’s husband, Roger Smith, who has since passed away. She talked to Ava about how that made her feel.

“She’s there whenever I have problems,” Sharpe said.

Kayleen Staats, 13 years old, has been a part of the Wood County 4-H Woodchucks for three non-consecutive years and started showing animals this year. This year she brought a steer named Cooper, who was auctioned off during the showcase; a quarter horse named Sofia, a 25-year-old black mare who retired on Friday; and various other farm animals

“It’s a lot of hard work,” Staats said Thursday. “I’ll be pretty sad and upset to watch (Cooper) leave.”

Blennerhassett FFA member Jordyne Lockhart, left, offers a free sample of her rabbit meat tacos to Belleville 4-H member Alana Willis during the Wood County Junior Livestock Sale to wrap up the county Summer Showcase Saturday at the 4-H camp in Mineral Wells. (Photo by Evan Bevins)

Cooper, Staats’ 1-year-old steer that weighed around 1,183 pounds, was sold for slaughter.

Staats took Sofia when she would travel for barrel racing and rodeos.

Rain caused Friday’s horse show to be rescheduled for August, but otherwise, the rest of the schedule was intact, Smith said.

“It’s been exciting because some of our first-year exhibitors have actually won grand champion, reserve champion,” she said.

And it wasn’t just students with livestock featured. The week included an art and photography show open to any kids in the community, not just those in 4-H, FFA and CEOS. There were 54 entries in that, as well as 90 still 4-H projects, Smith said.

Livestock raised by 101 4-H and FFA members were auctioned off at the Junior Livestock Sale Saturday at the Wood County 4-H Camp in Mineral Wells. (Photo by Evan Bevins)

“It’s really nice to see and let the kids have an opportunity to show off their creativity and talent,” she said.

Staff reporter Clara Noelle contributed to this story.

Evan Bevins can be reached at ebevins@newsandsentinel.com.

The Wood County Flywheelers group displayed tractors, antique engines and related collectibles during the Wood County 4-H and FFA Summer Showcase this week at the 4-H camp in Mineral Wells. (Photo by Evan Bevins)