It only took a couple hundred industrious youngsters to break the record — for the fourth year in a row.

Once again, livestock sold higher than the previous year at the Park County Fair’s 4-H and FFA Junior Livestock Sale on Saturday.

This year, the sale generated $428,933 compared to $390,146 last year. That is nearly $39,000 more than 2014, or a near 10 percent increase, said Joe Bridges, chairman of the annual sale.

The near 10 percent increase is significant considering only one more animal was sold in 2015 (227) than 2014, Bridges said.

“Across the board our averages are up,” Bridges said. 

Most of the stock fetching the highest bid prices were raised by Powell youth.

The highest price paid for a steer was $5.75 per pound, paid by Woodward Tractor and Rental, Inc., in Cody to Hayden Bronnenberg of Powell. The average price was $3.78 per pound, compared to last year’s average price of $3.50 per pound, Bridges said. 

The highest price for a hog was $15.50 per pound paid by Bob and Vicky Curtis and Stan and Nan Curtis to Daniel Beaudrie of Cody. The average hog price was $6.77 per pound compared to $6.21 last year.

Beaudrie suffered an injury in a motor vehicle crash while returning from a wrestling trip in March, Bridges said.

The prices for the Junior Livestock Sale are above market value, but buyers want to support the youth who invest great effort in raising their livestock and then surmount the pressure associated with showing animals, said Vicky Curtis, J Bar 9 office manager.

“He (Beaudrie) worked hard and he went through a lot this year,” Curtis said. “And, we wanted to help.”

The highest lamb bid was $15 per pound, paid by Cascade Services, LLC., in Cody to Brooke Bessler of Powell. The average was $10.11 per pound compared to $9.72 last year, Bridges said.

Bessler’s lamb placed champion beginner 4-H showman. 

The highest goat was for $17.50 per pound paid by Cascade Services to Kalli Ashby of Powell. The average was $9 per pound, compared to $8.58 in 2014.

Ashby’s goat placed resident champion intermediate 4-H showman.

The highest price for a rabbit was $450 paid by Metzler and Moore Realty and Swensons Auctions in Powell to Annie Price of Powell. The average price was $387.50 per head compared to $396 in 2014, Bridges said.

Price’s goat placed overall grand champion. 

Hats off to the community for providing monetary encouragement to the kids, Bridges said. People and businesses bidding on the stock know the importance of supporting youth.

There were more bidders than previous years. “It was a great turnout,” Bridges said.

Raising livestock to show is a learning experience for youth. Purchasing animals at the Junior Livestock Sale contributes to the young people’s future in agriculture, Curtis said. 

The youth search near and far to locate the best animals to rear and those animals enjoy the finest feed and care. While raising their prize-winning animals the youngsters broaden their work ethic and business skills. “A majority of those kids are going to use that money to go on to college,” Bridges said.

The livestock sale youth are tomorrow’s agriculture leaders. “These truly are the future of what we’re trying to do here,” Bridges said.