Easter Beef auction draws a crowd

Colby Macquarrie shows grand champion for second year in a row

“We work all winter to do this, hours on end in the evenings and weekends, from feeding them to washing them, getting them ready to come (to the sale).”

Colby Macquarrie

Colby Macquarrie has been participating in the Easter Beef show and sale since was 12 years old, so he knows what goes into showing a champion steer.

“We work all winter to do this, hours on end in the evenings and weekends, from feeding them to washing them, getting them ready to come. So, it means a lot," Macquarrie told Saltwire Network during the sale at the Eastlink Centre in Charlottetown March 24, where 43 steers and their handlers of all ages were brought into the ring before a packed crowd.

“When we’re really going, we’re at it probably three to four hours every second night, after your day job.”

Macquarrie's grand champion steer from Miltonvale Angus weighed in at 1,325 pounds and was auctioned off for $14.50 a pound to A & S Scrap Metals.

RAISING CHAMPIONS

This was the second winning steer in as many years for Macquarrie.

“Two years in a row is a pretty big deal,” said Macquarrie, who also had a grand champion in 2017 and has been showing animals at the sale for 19 years.

“It’s kind of in my blood, it has been my whole life. When you got out in the fall and pick your calves to put on feed and you’re trying to make something out of them, and you bring them in here and you get that much success out of them, it’s a nice feeling,” he said.

The runnerup steer was owned and presented by 15-year-old 4-H member Austin Potts from Potts Farms in Argyle Shore.

The steer was pretty fat, stylish and has lots of hair,

said Potts while describing what he thinks set it apart from the rest.

“It feels pretty good being able to stand out against all the other ones,” he said. “It means hard work and dedication. A lot of hard work goes into it.”

Potts also placed second at the Easter Beef show two years ago.

“I’ve been participating since I was eight or nine ... and my parents have been in it for years, they showed when they were kids.”

QUALITY BEEF

James Worth, president of the Easter Beef show and auction, said the two events are opportunities for producers to show off the Island’s topquality beef, and for buyers to support the beef industry.

“It means a lot to me, I’ve been doing it since I was nine, I competed all through the 4-H program ... It’s the highlight of my year to be honest,” said Worth.

Getting a steer ready for the Easter Beef show starts months in advance, he said.

“We start feeding them back in September, we start working on them in January, so we work on them a couple days a week, it’s all fun when you get started.

“Then we move into Charlottetown, it just brings the excitement a little bit further,” he said.

Worth also recognized those who make the Easter Beef events possible.

“I’d just like to thank all our buyers and continuous supporters; without them it wouldn’t be possible. We wouldn’t be here without them. We appreciate all their support through the years.”