The 22nd annual Ellis County Youth Expo concluded on Saturday with a barbecue lunch before the sale began at 1:00 p.m. Several exhibitors representing both Italy and Milford made the sale and received much support from local buyers for their efforts.

In many cases, after being purchased, the animals were returned to the exhibitors. This allowed exhibitors the option to resale the animals, at market value, to the packing plants for additional funds, sale to an individual or to simply take the animals home.

Thanks to the many volunteers, just a small percentage of each sale goes back to the Expo center to cover use of the facility.

Generally, if an exhibitor placed 1st or 2nd in class, their animals automatically made the sale. If an exhibitor placed 3rd or lower in the class, they could be bumped up high enough to make the sale if the animals ahead of theirs are withdrawn from the sale.

Animals are withdrawn for many reasons but the most common is that each exhibitor is allowed the opportunity to sell just one animal. Since many exhibitors show more than one animal, often within the same division, they will choose to sell the animal that placed the highest and withdraw any additional animals. This allows an opportunity for the lower placed animals, within a division, to bump up and qualify for the sale.

Below is the list of exhibitors representing both Italy and Milford that made the sale on Saturday:

Market Steers

• Bailey Eubank / Italy 4H: Market Steer, 1st in class, Breed Champion, overall Grand Champion, Buyer: Byrum Ranch

• Jacqualyn Crowley (Sr.) / Italy 4H: Steer, 4th in class – bumped up two spots for sale.

• Clayton Campbell / Italy 4H: Steer, 1st in class, Buyer: HBI

• Matt Brummett (Sr.) / Italy 4H: Steer, 1st in class, Buyer: HBI

• Kyle Wilkins (Sr.) / Italy 4H: Steer, 4th in class – bumped up two spots for sale, Buyer: HBI

• Bailey Bumpus / Italy 4H: Steer, 3rd in class – bumped up one spot for sale, Buyer: Mark Stiles

• Kyle Jackson / Italy 4H: Steer, 2nd in class, Buyer: HBI

• Russell Helms/ Ellis County 4H/Milford School: Steer, 1st in class, Buyer: HBI
  
  

Market Lambs

• Lacy Mott / Italy 4H: Southdown Lamb, 2nd in class, Buyer: Mill Creek Ranch

• Trevor Mott / Italy 4H: Southdown Lamb, 2nd in class, Buyer: Mill Creek Ranch

• Jaclynn Lewis / Italy Junior FFA: Medium Wool Lamb – born and raised in Italy by Russ Lewis Club Lambs, 1st in class, Breed Reserve, overall Reserve Grand Champion, Buyer: Waxahachie Ford Mercury

• Katie Byers / Italy FFA: Medium Wool Lamb – born and raised in Italy by Russ Lewis Club Lambs, 2nd in class, Buyer: Mark Stiles

• John Byers / Italy Junior FFA: Medium Wool Lamb – born and raised in Italy by Russ Lewis Club Lambs, 2nd in class, Buyer: Mark Stiles
  
  

Market Swine

• Bailey DeBorde / Italy: Swine, 1st in class, Reserve Breed Champion, Buyer: Mill Creek Ranch

• Brooke DeBorde / Italy: Swine, 2nd in class (Spot Division), Buyer: Legends Group

• Aaron Pittmon / Italy Junior FFA: Swine, 2nd in class, Buyer: Mill Creek Ranch

• Hailey Pittmon (Sr.) / Italy FFA: Swine, 2nd in class, Buyer: Mark Stiles

• Molly Haight (Sr.) / Italy FFA: Swine, 5th in class – bumped up one spot for sale, Buyer: Mark Stiles
  
  

Congratulations to all the Expo exhibitors and a special thank you to the buyers for ensuring a successful 2011 Ellis County Youth Expo & Sale.

Byrum Ranch was the top overall buyer for the 2011 Ellis County Youth Expo.