Get your meat - at the Spokane Interstate Fair

People looking to purchase some quality locker meat might want to consider taking a trip to the upcoming Spokane Interstate Fair.

Cheney and other West Plains 4-H clubs and Future Farmers of America students will be showing their prize steers, hogs, lamb and goats during the annual livestock auction, taking place this Sunday, Sept. 9, at 2 p.m. at the fair’s agricultural center. Frog Hollow 4-H leader Kyle Cordill said these students have spent hundreds of hours raising these animals, and often rely on their sale to help them fund the next year’s projects or to save money for their post-high school education.

“We really need people who are interested,” Cordill said. “We’re always looking for buyers for these.”

Cordill claimed it can be up to $250 cheaper to purchase a 1,200-pound steer for locker meat than it is to buy an equal amount of beef in the stores, once all the different cuts are figured into the calculations. And it’s a relatively easy process for the buyer.

Cordill said once an animal is purchased, the buyer’s name is attached to it for future reference. Butchers are set up to come to the fair to pick up the animal and transport it back to their facilities for processing.

Prices depend on the animal, so Cordill recommends calling for specifics. Generally, it starts with a kill charge of $60-$80 a head, with the butcher disposing of all the parts that are not needed. Prices then range from 40 to 60 cents a pound to cut, hang in the freezer to be “locker-aged” and then wrapped.

“On a steer, you’re looking at around $500,” Cordill said.

To raise a steer, Cordill said the students will spend at least an hour a day feeding the animal, once in the morning and again in the evening. When the weather is hot, they spend about a half hour each day rinsing the animal to keep it cool in order to get the best hair growth for showing.

They will then put another half hour in each day just working with the animal so it will respond to commands during the show. Other animals such as pigs, lambs and goats require less training and raising, but still take a lot of the student’s time, Cordill added.

Then on top of that is the expense of feeding, plus cleaning the animal’s pens.

Cheney High School junior and Frog Hollow 4-H member Tanner Gerdes has done all four types of animals, but is looking at taking his 1,280 pound steer to the fair this year. Gerdes started showing at age 8, and each year has been a progression in responsibilities and effort.

“It takes time and money to compete,” Gerdes said. “And, it’s a learning experience.”

The knowledge to raise these animals comes at monthly club meetings from leaders and guest speakers. Gerdes said he’s also gone to meetings of the Spokane County Cattlemen’s Association as well as clinics and conferences to pick up information on topics such as genetics and nutrition.

“Just to learn more about how we an do this better,” he added.

Gerdes said besides raising animals, his experience in 4-H has also provided him skills in things such as public speaking and judging other animal shows. He hopes to put his knowledge to use after graduation by possibly majoring in secondary education.

“I’m thinking of being an ag teacher,” Gerdes said. “This is good prep.”

Cordill believes that preparation can be helped this Sunday by people coming to Fair’s livestock auction and performing a simple task.

“All they have to do is raise their hand, cut a check and pick up their boxes (of meat) three weeks later,” he said.

John McCallum can be reached at [email protected].