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Despite another cold, wet evening, nearly 900 alumni, friends and supporters attended the 13th Annual Hokie Harvest Sale on Friday, October 26th. There were 10 breeding swine sold via silent auction prior to the 17 horses and 37 head of beef cattle that were sold concurrently at public auction in the Alphin-Stuart Livestock Arena (horses) and the Livestock Judging Pavilion (beef cattle) to buyers from across the Mid-Atlantic region.
This public auction of livestock is a class project for Virginia Tech students
in two undergraduate classes, Livestock Merchandising and Equine Training.
Students in the Livestock Merchandising class did a wonderful job of organizing
and conducting the sale. Students in Equine
Training class beautifully conditioned, trained and presented the horses in the sale.
Each year the faculty associated with the sale thoroughly enjoy working with
these students, who are the future of the livestock and equine industries.
Mr. Jeff Marsh of Eurosport Auctions, Culpeper, VA has donated his services as a professional auctioneer at all thirteen Hokie Harvest Sales. A graduate of the Department of Animal Sciences at Virginia Tech, Mr. Marsh has been instrumental in the development of Virginia Tech's sport horse breeding program and provides considerable financial support to both the Virginia Tech Equine Science Program at large, and the VT Horse Judging Team. The Hokie Harvest audience is always entertained and enthusiastic about Mr. Marsh's auctioneering skills.
A variety of young horses produced in Virginia Tech's sport horse breeding program were sold, as well as some talented and well trained riding horses that had been donated to the program as resale projects. Purchasers included several current and former students of Virginia Tech and many who had purchased horses from the Hokie Harvest in previous years. The horse sale grossed $58,300 with a sale average of $3,644.
The high selling horse was Bertone VT (pictured at left), who sold for $11,500. This impressive bay gelding is a son of the outstanding international dressage stallion Bugatti Hilltop and out of one of Virginia Tech's top dressage mares, Maggiolata. Bertone VT was Champion Colt at his ISR/Oldenburg NA foal inspection and is a tremendous dressage prospect. He was purchased by Ray James of Reconvert, West Virginia. Mr. James also purchased the talented two-year-old filly Chanel VT privately after the former Champion Filly failed to meet her reserve price on Friday night.
Bravado VT , a two-year-old gelding by Virginia Tech's herdsire Baladin d'Oc fetched $5600 and sold to USDF Gold Medalist Susan B. Cooper of Huddleston, Virginia and another two-year-old Baladin d'Oc son, Berkeley VT, sold for $5500 to Terry Collins of Pembroke, Virginia.
The students once again did a marvelous job of preparing for the sale. They gained ‘hands-on’ experience in sale management, budgeting, cataloging, advertising, livestock photography, clerking, and health requirements. The Food and Beverage Committee, with assistance from the Block and Bridle Club in the Department of Animal and Poultry Sciences, served a complimentary BBQ dinner to over 800 guests. Their support and cooperation are greatly appreciated.
Plans are currently underway for the 14th Annual Hokie Harvest Sale on Friday, October 31, 2008.
