Although Michael Krumm, 14, received two ribbons Sunday at the Douglas County Free Fair, he dreaded the livestock auction that followed the awards ceremony.

“Tonight’s kind of a mellow night because you’re selling one of your animals that you’ve worked with all year,” said Krumm, who won Grand Champion in food preservation for his canned pickles and Reserve Grand Champion in educational food presentation for his table setting.

Krumm, Baldwin, auctioned off a lamb named Whoopi Saturday. He struggled to remember the name of the lamb because he doesn’t often name his market livestock, he said.

“I try not to give my market lambs names, so I’m not too attached to it,” he said.

Krumm said though he was wary when he began 4-H seven years ago, the value of the experience has been immeasurable.

“I went into it skeptical,” he said. “But now I never want to quit. I want to be involved in 4-H even as an adult. It just makes you feel like you learn something new all the time.”

Morgan Trowbridge, Olathe, also auctioned off livestock. Trowbridge, 15, Olathe, won Grand Champion for her steer. She recently moved to Olathe, but said she can still participate in her Douglas County 4-H club, the Pioneers.

Trowbridge has participated in 4-H for nine years and now serves as a 4-H ambassador. After her ninth county fair she had mixed emotions.

“I’m happy and sad,” she said. “I’m happy because it’s over and I don’t have to be out here in the heat, but sad because I want it to go on.”

A total of 128 animals were sold at the livestock auctions. The sales totaled $45,906.29.

Trudy Rice, Douglas County Extension director, said she estimated about 10,000 people attended the fair this year  a rise in attendance, she said.

Rice contributed the increase to the Chely Wright concert and also starting and ending the week’s activities a day later.

“Starting a day later caused a big difference attendance-wise,” she said. “We definitely saw a lot more people over the weekend than before, especially at the carnival, and as word gets out in the community the number that attend each year will increase.”