PRESS RELEASE - Spetember 14, 2010
CONTACT: Daniel Vandever, Public Information Officer
Phone: 928-810-8510
Email: dwvandever@gmail.com

Photos by Daniel Vandever

Sammy Becenti wins Grand Champion Pig at the Navajo Nation Fair 4H Livestock Show on September 10, 2010.

Community gets involved at Navajo Nation Fair 4-H Auction

WINDOW ROCK, Ariz. – The 64th Annual Navajo Nation Fair’s 4-H Junior Livestock auction featured a grand champion pig that weighed 245 pounds, a grand champion lamb that weighed 142 pounds and a grand champion steer that weighed 1,220 pounds.

With such desirable animals, the community came out and helped reward the 4-H children for their dedication and hard work for raising premier animals.

Like many other events in the Navajo Nation Fair, such as rodeo and powwow, 4-H takes a lot of dedication.

To begin, participants must enroll as a 4-H member. From there they take ownership of an animal and feed and take care of it until it is ready for market, which usually is around fair time.

Once they enter their animal in competition, it is weighed and then categorized on weight division. The animal is then judged in its respective division, and is ready for sale the next day.

“Most of the time sales go beyond their market price because of the efforts of the kids,” stated Gerald Moore of the University of Arizona Cooperative Extension. “This year sales have gone above and beyond, more so than in the past five years.”

Sammy Becenti of Club Tohatchi raised the grand champion pig this year, and Fire Rock Casino paid almost $2,000 for it at $8 a pound. Odessa Oldham of Club Country Kids raised the grand champion lamb this year, and Navajo Oil and Gas paid almost $1,000 for it at $6.50 a pound.

Other local businesses bought their grand champions from exhibitors as well. Reina Pino of Magdalena sold her booster to NAPI, Jess Oldham of Country Kids sold his steer to Chance Corporation, and Sara Gurule of Double Spur sold her goat to High Desert.

With so many local businesses supporting the kids and their efforts, 4-H coordinator, Michelle Spencer stated that those involved in 4-H are kind of like a family.

“In 4-H, everyone is so close that you get to know the kids,” stated Spencer. “Whether you’re family or not, those involved become family.”

Other events associated with the 64th Annual Navajo Nation Fair 4-H were a junior horse show, a fashion show, a public speaking and talent demonstration, and a Saturday night cook-out and awards presentation.

For more information please visit www.navajonationfair.com or contact the Special Events Office at 928.871.6647.

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