Morgan Dippert, 12, stands with her steer, Lord Tubbington, the week before he is auctioned off during the Junior Livestock Auction at the Clallam County Fair. Sequim Gazette photo by Amanda Winters

A freshly clipped Lord Tubbington chewed on his feed and swatted flies away with his tail as Morgan Dippert, 12, of Sequim, talked about what needed to be done to prepare the 18-month-old steer for this year's Junior Livestock Auction at the Clallam County Fair.

Her third year selling a steer at auction, Dippert works with Lord Tubbington every day, training him to walk for longer periods of time so she doesn't have to pull him around the arena during the Aug. 18 auction.

The Junior Livestock Auction, in its 21st year, has many requirements for participating 4-H and FFA youth to maintain a high level of care for the animals, including passing the Quality Assurance exam, which is on responsible handling, veterinary practices and customer satisfaction. Individuals, businesses, groups or donors can participate in the auction by registering through the 4-H office at 417-2398. The purpose of the auction is to encourage leadership, resourcefulness and responsible animal husbandry in the participating youth.

Raising Lord Tubbington

Dippert, a member of Pure Country 4-H Club, said she feeds the steer hay and grain two times a day and as they approach the auction she pays special attention to his diet if he has been treated for something.

"You have to wait for it to get out of their system so it isn't in the meat," she said.

Last year, Dippert used the proceeds from the sale of her steer to repay her parents for the money they spent on feed and then she bought Lord Tubbington. She plans to save the money from the sale of Lord Tubbington for college or a car, she said.

"It's a lot of work but it's good, it's responsibility," said Morgan Dippert's mother, Lesa Dippert.

Her daughter also has learned about focus, money management, respect for adults and record keeping, she said.

Morgan Dippert said during the school year, every day after school if she doesn't have homework she goes outside to walk her steer and scoop up the manure that comes with it. Before she raised steers, she showed rabbits in 4-H.

Her older sister, Maya Dippert, also is involved in the Pure Country 4-H Club and this fall will begin participating in FFA.

Swine and steer

Siblings Jamie and Becky Schroepfer, of Sequim, both have hogs in this year's Junior Livestock Auction, said their mother, Tami Schroepfer.

"They learn responsibility of how to care of animals, the heartache of caring for animals — Becky has lost a couple calves — how much money it takes to raise an animal, how to get it ready for show and all those things," Schroepfer said.

Jamie, 12, and Becky, 15, have both been involved in 4-H since kindergarten and are members of the 4-H Rascals Club. Schroepfer said they also learn how to do something from the start to the finish.

This is Becky's seventh year and Jamie's fourth year to participate in the auction, each year using their proceeds to invest in the next year's project, she said.

In addition to auctioning their hogs, Becky will be showing a dairy cow and Jamie will be showing a beef cow, she said. Becky also is in FFA.

For more information on the auction, call 417-2398.

Reach Amanda Winters at awinters@sequimgazette.com.

The Sequim Gazette is located at 147 W. Washington Street in Sequim.
Business hours are Monday through Friday from 8:30 a.m. to 5:00 p.m.
Phone 360-683-3311, or toll free at 800-829-5810. FAX 360-683-6670.
For a complete company directory with contact information please click HERE.