Livestock auction closes fair

There were times during the past 16 months when Wyatt Schumann had his doubts about Hawk.

That’s how long the 10-year-old, 80-pound Lecompton boy has been working with his 1,268-pound steer, Hawk. Sunday all the hard work paid off to the sum of $3,177.80.

That’s how much the grand champion steer earned during the livestock auction, the event that culminated this year’s Douglas County Free Fair.

“I was surprised and really excited,” Wyatt said about Hawk being named grand champion. “I didn’t really think he’d do that good.”

Hawk had a tendency to get nervous at earlier livestock shows in which he was shown.

“He finally calmed down,” Wyatt said.

Wyatt admitted it would be hard to let Hawk go in the auction. But he and his father, Bryce Schumann, noted that Wyatt had given up other animals at past fairs. Hawk, however, was Wyatt’s first grand champion steer.

“He put in a lot of work with it,” Schumann said. “He knows that steers are to make money.”

Wes Kabler of Flamingo Enterprises purchased the steer.

Wyatt Schumann, 10, of Lecompton is the owner of Hawk, the grand champion steer of the Douglas County Free Fair. The 80-pound Wyatt sold his 1,268-pound steer at the livestock auction Sunday.

This year’s fair was a major success, said Doug Rich, president of the Douglas County Fair Board. The mild weather last week certainly helped, he said.

“It was nice and cool and we had some great crowds,” Rich said. “It was good for the people and the animals.”

Jessica Brecheisen, 18, of Eudora, brushes her angus steer Shorts before the livestock auction at the Douglas County Free Fair. Competitors' livestock was sold at the auction marking the close of the fair Sunday. For more on the auction, see page 3B.

Friday night’s demolition derby drew about 3,000 people, one of the biggest crowds in its history, Rich said.

Also drawing well were the weeklong nightly carnival and Saturday night’s concerts, he said.

Dierks Bentley, who ended the concert, stayed for more than an hour after his performance signing autographs, Rich said. Band members in Ricochet, which performed before Bentley, also signed autographs afterward, he said.

“Everything went really well,” Rich said.

A total of 122 animals were sold at auction Sunday at the Douglas County Free Fair for a total of $71,647.82. Results of the top auctions:¢ The grand champion market steer owned by Wyatt Schumann, Lecompton, weighing 1,268 pounds, was purchased by Flamingo Enterprises for $3,177.80.¢ The reserve grand champion market steer, owned by Emily Krysztof, Baldwin, weighing 1,343 pounds, was purchased by K&K Grinding, for $2,041.55.¢ The grand champion market sheep, owned by Luke Wempe, Lawrence, weighing 133 pounds, was purchased by J.B. Pearl Sales & Service for $797.58.¢ The reserve grand champion market sheep, owned by Morgan Trowbridge, Olathe, weighing 119 pounds, was purchased by Stephens Real Estate for $497.58.¢ The grand champion market hog, owned by Casey George, Baldwin, weighing 260 pounds, was purchased by Checkers for $891.70.¢ The reserve grand champion market hog, owned by Christopher Brown, Baldwin, weighing 268 pounds, was purchased by Hy-Vee Food & Drug for $746.06.¢ The grand champion market rabbit, owned by David Bateson, Eudora, was purchased by Elston Auction Co. for $450.¢ The reserve grand champion market rabbit, owned by Troy Stanley, was purchased by Dr. Herschel Lewis for $300.¢ The grand champion meat goat, owned by Ben Smart, Baldwin, weighing 97 pounds, was purchased by Hy-Vee Food & Drug for $352.60.¢ The reserve grand champion meat goat, owned by Nathan Smart, Baldwin, weighing 111 pounds, was purchased by Checkers for $338.80.