By SHELLEY TERRY - Staff Writer - sterry@starbeacon.com
JEFFERSON — Gubby the duck drew a flock of bidders Friday afternoon at the Ashtabula County Junior Fair Market Animal Sale.
Gubby was one 250 animals and seven cheese baskets sold at the sale.
Amanda Zalar of Rock Creek raised Gubby and her aunt Kelly Loiczly, of Willoughby Hills, bought Gubby for $55 a pound, breaking the fair’s record of $43 a pound. The crowd in the MAC Arena applauded Loiczly’s purchase.
“The duck is named after my husband,” she said.
Earlier in the week, the 7-pound Peking duck garnered the title of reserve champion market duck. Loiczly said she plans to dine on Gubby in the near future.
“We know what she fed it,” she said.
Amanda isn’t so sure she will partake in the meal because she has gotten a bit attached to Gubby.
“I like to give him a bath,” she said.
Ashtabula resident Britney Faz didn’t bond with her market duck, she said before the sale.
Natalie Bessman, 17, of Pierpont, said her grand champion market goat, Dawg, was easy to train.
Hurst Farms of Jefferson purchased the 65-pound goat for $2.50 per pound.
“It’s time for him to go,” Natalie said.
Area businesses and individuals bid on market livestock, raised by 4-H and Future Farmers of America members, for several hours. In addition to the seven cheese baskets, there were 12 ducks, seven goats, three goat carcasses, seven rabbits, 23 turkeys, seven chickens, 35 dairy beef feeders, 36 market steers, six beef carcasses, six dairy steers, five dairy beef carcasses, 10 beef feeders, five market lambs, five lamb carcasses, 88 hogs and 10 hog carcasses.
