For 11-year-old Frankie Counts, Saturday night in the cattle barn at the Moffat County Fairgrounds was another step in the learning process of the 4-H program.

On the one hand, it is sad to say goodbye to the furry friend she has gotten to know well over the last few months. But it is also rewarding to know that she has done her job well in raising the animal.

At the Junior Livestock Sale, the culmination of the week at the Moffat County Fair, youth from Northwest Colorado saw their hard work pay off as they exhibited and received bids for their cattle, hogs, sheep, poultry and other market animals.

For those in their early years of 4-H, the process was especially exciting as they saw how their animal care and money management decisions fit together.

Before the show, nine-year-old Raelynn Swartzell, who is competing in the show for the second year, said she has invested a lot of time into her goat Bingo – named for his spotted coat – including a pretty penny.

“I spent $500 on him,” she said.

For the juniors, the experience is still relatively new, while the middle and older age groups are more accustomed to the process.

When the livestock sale began with the parade of champions in the market division, Hunter Musgrave, as overall champion in the market turkey and chicken categories, was in the ring more often than anyone else.

During his first year working with a new animal, he also became runner-up in the rabbit category behind Makylee Ott.

“I think I did pretty well, especially as far as the show goes,” he said. “I really enjoyed feeding them watermelons.”

While his younger brother Timber took home first place in the porker category – his pig served as a kissing partner for both Moffat County Commissioner Donald Broom and Craig Mayor Chris Nichols as part of a fundraiser before the livestock show – Koy Weber said he was happy with his competitor Daddy Yankee as runner-up.

“He’s a goofy pig and I just had fun with him,” he said. “I loved working with him because he has a really good personality. He’s spirited and a good challenge.”

The 250-pound cart was still full of energy in its pen after the auction, where it fetched a good price of $17 per pound.

“This award was exactly what I was hoping for,” Weber said.

During the sale, the barn was a hive of activity. A number of children were in the ring presenting their animals for sale, and another number were leaving the ring to have their picture taken with the buyers.

As she left the photo area, Katie Timmer said she received a final bid of $27 per pound for her lamb, Guppy.

“That was more than I expected,” she said. “I think in previous years I’ve only gotten 19 or 20.”

Timmer said she had a lot of experience working with sheep after many years in sheep’s clothing and made sure Guppy stayed physically fit.

“He’s got really good muscle definition. He shows really well and performs well,” she said. “With some lambs, depending on how they’re built, if you support them, their back can fall outwards and it can dip. I press on his belly to flatten it out. There are lots of little things.”

Despite several awards, including the main winner award in the market sheep class, Timmer knows she can still improve in her exhibition presentation. She performed excellently in the market class and took second place in the show class.

Although the former is more about a reward and the latter is more about bragging rights, the show talent category was important to her for another reason.

“I like the competition,” Timmer said. “The money is nice, but that’s not why most of these kids do it.”

Counts was the first competitor at the livestock sale with her Grand Champion goat Primrose.

Named after a character from The Hunger Games – yes, she has a sister named Katniss who unfortunately refused to volunteer as a tribute – the animal was sold for $39 a pound.

It wasn’t a bad catch for a 90-pound goat, although Counts said she had other plans for Prim.

“I was hoping to maybe trade her and use her for breeding,” she said. “I have about 50 goats and of all the goats I’ve shown, I think she’s the best. I’m really sad to have to sell her.”

Over the past three years, Counts has worked not only with pigs but also with dozens of goats and has learned that saying goodbye to market cattle is part of life on the farm.

Counts is now in her final year in the junior age group at Sand Springs 4-H and is already looking forward to moving up next year.

“It will probably be a challenge, but I think I’m ready for it,” she said.