Despite the average sale prices dipping from last year, the Junior Livestock Auction was still deemed a success and gave area youth an educational opportunity at the La Crosse Interstate Fair.

“We expected (the average sale prices) to be down a little because of the economy, but it was better than expected,” said Mick Gilster, the chairman of the Junior Livestock Sale Committee.

The 41st Junior Livestock Auction was held Saturday night and featured 40 hogs, 33 steer and 20 sheep. The event gives youth the opportunity to learn, raise and show an animal while linking them to buyers who bid on the animals.

This year, the average sale price of steer was $1,725.79. For hogs, the average was $592.59. And for lambs, it was $368.52.

In 2007, the average sale price of steer was $1,930.47, for hogs the average was $708.42 and for lambs it was $399.22.

“The prices were down a little bit, but it still went pretty good,” Gilster said.

The Junior Livestock Auction is open to youth who are a member of a La Crosse County 4-H, FFA, FHA or Scouting program. Members of a La Crosse County junior livestock breed association or other youth organizations with an education program are also eligible.

The Junior Livestock Auction allows up to 105 animals to be entered — 40 hogs, 35 steer and 30 lambs — and there are eligibility requirements for the animals, such as a minimum weight. Each animal is divided into different classes, or breeds, and judging is based on the animal as well as showmanship.

Class winners for each animal then compete against each other, and a supreme champion and a reserve champion are selected.

West Salem’s Alan Nuttelman was the big winner this year as his steer was named supreme champion and his lamb was reserve champion.

“I was very happy,” said Nuttelman, 17 and a member of the West Salem FFA chapter.

Nuttelman’s 1,324-pound steer sold for $2,912.80 and his 140-pound lamb sold for $385. He said he plans to use the money for college and for buying animals for the auction next year, and he hopes to enter all three categories in 2009.

Holmen’s Karley Smith had the reserve champion steer, and the 1,184-pound steer sold for $2,072. Smith was a familiar face in the champion ring as she had last year’s supreme champion steer.

For hogs, Zachary Thomas had the supreme champion while David Schomberg had the reserve champion. Thomas’ 273-pound hog sold for $914.55 and Schomberg’s 277-pound hog sold for $831.

And in the lamb category, Kristin Torgerson had the supreme champion. The 143-pound lamb sold for $607.75.

Gilster noted that this year the cheese auction was moved from after the livestock auction and placed between the auction of the supreme champions and reserve champions. He said that might have also contributed to a lower sale average and the committee will discuss moving the cheese action back to the end of the program.

However, Gilster said the Junior Livestock Auction again provided a good, educational experience for youth.

“It went pretty good,” he said. “We’re happy with how things went.”