This year’s Harford County Farm Fair 4-H livestock auction, the largest to date, generated $596,667. 

The highest bidder was Klein’s Family Markets, which bought a 1,322-pound steer from 12-year-old Ella Deford, of Jarrettsville, for $14,524.

Ella Deford walks her grand champion market steer around the show ring during the 4-H Livestock Sale at the Harford County Farm Fair on July 27. (Brian Krista/staff photo)

The steer, which Ella named Popcorn, won grand champion market steer and was one of three animals Deford raised for the auction. Her two other animals were an 80-pound market goat named Pickles and a 239-pound market hog named Pancake.

Both the hog and goat were also champions at this year’s fair, with the goat winning grand champion market goat and the hog winning champion lightweight pig.

Preparation for the auction began in November for Ella, when she got her steer. During the school year, she balanced raising her animals with schoolwork and lacrosse.

“I would be in the barn after school until 8 at night, but hard work definitely pays off and I am glad everyone enjoyed the auction,” Ella said.

This year’s auction, according to fair organizers, was the biggest in fair history, with 226 livestock entries.

Money raised by 4-H members through the auction can be used for a variety of things such as farming expenses, buying new livestock or college.

Ella raised a total of $21,724 at this year’s auction, which she said she will use to purchase livestock for next year’s auction and for her education.