UNION – FFA and 4-H members earned a combined $269,000 from their animals that were sold Saturday during the junior auction at the Eastern Oregon Livestock Show.

The total amount earned was up over last year, though it did not set a record, said John Leithner, co-chairman of the auction.

“The auction went great,” Leithner said Monday. “Local businesses really came out for the kids.”

The $269,000 is still preliminary. Leithner said the total will likely go higher.

Leithner said that for weeks leading up to the auction he had been concerned, in fact “super scared,” about having enough buyers due to the depressed economy. But that in the end everything came together for the kids.

“Beef prices were low. Buyers got some great deals,” Leithner said, adding that while not all participants were able to recoup their investments, they at least were able to get back some of the money they put into their projects.

“We had more animals than last year” – up 40 to 349. Leithner said.

John Coote, Justin Nedrow and Jake Seavert served as auctioneers for the event, which ran from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. FFA advisers awarded the auctioneers belt buckles for their efforts on behalf of the FFA and 4-H members. “The auctioneers make it a lot of fun,” Leithner said.

Leithner and c0-chair Billie Jo Boothman presented Pat Bruce of Pepsi-Cola Bottling Co. of Eastern Oregon and Rolen Johnson of Country Companies special vests for the many years of support they have provided to the auction and the stock show.

Leithner said he hopes the buyers, plus new ones, will be willing to lend their support again next year – as well as to the upcoming Union County Fair junior auction where more great deals for beef, hogs and lamb will be available.

The county fair auction will be held Aug. 1.