4H students earn money, gain confidence at auction

Recent graduate of Superior High School Nicole Stroot can still recall her first entry into the 4H Livestock Auction a decade ago.

As she approached the auctioneer with the pig she had raised and was selling, nerves overcame her. She struggled to come up with something to say about her pig.

“I just smiled and shrugged my shoulders,” Stroot said. “Then as I got older I became more confident and not as bashful.”

In her final year participating in the program, Stroot was certainly not the same bashful girl that first walked into the auction area ten years ago. Stroot was confident as she addressed the bidders at the auctioneer’s request. She thanked the bidders and 4H for the program and added a sentence about how tasty the pig would undoubtedly be.

“4H really helped build my confidence,” Stroot said. “The auction is when all of our hard work pays off and the money that I have received is going towards my college fund. It’s nice seeing the tremendous support form our community every year.”

At this year’s auction, 15 4H members of all ages participated in the livestock auction. For the older members like Stroot, who are about to go to college in part due to the funds raised every year at the auction, seeing the younger ones is always special.

“It was fun seeing the younger kids who were selling their first pigs because it reminded me of myself,” Stroot said. “I was able to give them tips that I have learned throughout the years.”

Some of the newer 4H participants in the auction were noticeably nervous when asked to say something about their pig, cow or sheep. After contemplating what to say to the bidders, a variety of responses came out.

“It’ll make a good pork chop,” one participant said.

“It’ll make a good horse,” another said jokingly.

“She’ll make a good plate-full,” came from another.

All 15 participants successfully sold their livestock this year, which will go to a myriad of homes and organizations.