Fort Belknap 4-H Private Treaty Livestock Sale Deemed a Success

According to MSU-Fort Belknap Reservation Extension Office Agent, Liz Werk, the 4-H Private Treaty Livestock Sale was a "great success." The 27 animals brought in a total of $72,554.00

4-H members from Lucky Charms (Dodson), Little Rockies (Hays), and Wild Horse (Fort Belknap Agency) clubs sold 14 steers and 13 hogs through a catalog-Facebook advertised-phone in system modelled after the Blackfeet Reservation's 4-H Livestock Sale. The hybrid-catalog sale idea was adopted by Werk under the guidance of Verna Billedeaux, an agent with the Federally Recognized Tribal Extension Program.

Werk reported that the average steer weight was 1058 pounds, with the beef selling for an average of $3.76/pound. The average weight for the hogs was 260 pounds, and the swine sold for an average of $4.92/pound.

Earning $2,030.00, Tilli Werk's 290 pound Hampshire hog, Frosty, took in the most money. It was purchased by Jerey Mcewen for $7.00/pound.

The highest bid in the steer category at $5.00/pound was by Still Waters Cowboy Church-Montana Team. They purchased Franky Werk's 1,060 pound Red Angus FFA steer.

Werk, a member of the Malta FFA Chapter who will be entering his first year of college this fall, named his steer "Tuition," to indicate where the money he earned from the sale would be going. Tuition was advertised as an "all-natural grass fed [animal] being finished on Show Steer and Champion Feed."

"I had a lot of fun raising this guy," Werk stated.

Fort Belknap Intertribal Ag Council sponsored the processing, and the Fort Belknap Investment Board assisted with the animal purchases.

A member of the Little Rockies 4-H Club, Aubri Werk captured the sentiments of many of the 4-H and FFA members when she said, "I am so very grateful for the opportunity to be able to sell my steer this year during the pandemic that has changed all of our lives. I also extend a huge thank you to Liz Werk, Ramona King, and Hillary Maxwell. They have put endless hours into the livestock sale, and it would not have been possible without these three amazing ladies. I hope next year we will all be able to be back in the show ring."