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Students learn life lessons at OC Fair livestock auction

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  • Masen Karsten, 13, with Trabuco Trailblazers 4H, carries one of her two Grand Champion market broilers, Drumstick and Nugget, after selling them in auction at the OC Fair in Costa Mesa on Saturday, July 21, 2018. (Photo by Mindy Schauer, Orange County Register/SCNG)

  • Masen Karsten, 13, with Trabuco Trailblazers 4H, carries her Grand Champion market broilers, Drumstick and Nugget, to the auction ring at the OC Fair in Costa Mesa on Saturday, July 21, 2018. (Photo by Mindy Schauer, Orange County Register/SCNG)

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  • Amanda Gomez, 15, of Buena Park, reacts as her sheep “Chevy” gets auctioned off at the OC Fair in Costa Mesa on Saturday, July 21, 2018. (Photo by Mindy Schauer, Orange County Register/SCNG)

  • Shelmarie Main, left, and Masen Karsten, 13, with Trabuco Trailblazers 4H, congratulate Dylan Mongan, 18, after his turkey “Andre the Great” was auctioned off at the OC Fair in Costa Mesa on Saturday, July 21, 2018. (Photo by Mindy Schauer, Orange County Register/SCNG)

  • Auctioneer Todd Ventura gets the livestock bids going at the OC Fair in Costa Mesa on Saturday, July 21, 2018. (Photo by Mindy Schauer, Orange County Register/SCNG)

  • Bidders pack the livestock auction house at the OC fair in Costa Mesa on Saturday, July 21, 2018. (Photo by Mindy Schauer, Orange County Register/SCNG)

  • Scot Worrell, an auction spotter calls out the bids during the livestock auction at the OC Fair in Costa Mesa on Saturday, July 21, 2018. (Photo by Mindy Schauer, Orange County Register/SCNG)

  • Livestock bidders take part in the OC Fair auction in Costa Mesa on Saturday, July 21, 2018. (Photo by Mindy Schauer, Orange County Register/SCNG)

  • Children with the 4H club watch the livestock auction at the OC Fair in Costa Mesa on Saturday, July 21, 2018. (Photo by Mindy Schauer, Orange County Register/SCNG)

  • “Key” naps in his pen while awaiting auction at the OC Fair in Costa Mesa on Saturday, July 21, 2018. He is owned by Nick Valencia, 19, a graduate of Mission Viejo High School and a member of FFA. (Photo by Mindy Schauer, Orange County Register/SCNG)

  • Dylan Mongan, 18, shows off his turkey, “Andre the Great,” during the livestock auction at the OC Fair in Costa Mesa on Saturday, July 21, 2018. (Photo by Mindy Schauer, Orange County Register/SCNG)

  • “Andre the Great,” a 2018 Grand Champion market turkey, struts his stuff at the OC Fair auction in Costa Mesa on Saturday, July 21, 2018. (Photo by Mindy Schauer, Orange County Register/SCNG)

  • Dylan Mongan, 18, shows off his turkey, “Andre the Great,” during the livestock auction at the OC Fair in Costa Mesa on Saturday, July 21, 2018. (Photo by Mindy Schauer, Orange County Register/SCNG)

  • Hank, the 2018 Grand Champion Market Hog owned by Alexandra Emch from Sonora High School, appears shy as he is auctioned off at the OC Fair in Costa Mesa on Saturday, July 21, 2018. (Photo by Mindy Schauer, Orange County Register/SCNG)

  • Dominique Montes, 15, with La Habra Hilltoppers 4H, shows off “Ruger” during auction at the OC Fair in Costa Mesa on Saturday, July 21, 2018. (Photo by Mindy Schauer, Orange County Register/SCNG)

  • Sonora High School student Vanessa Canchola of La Habra holds her bushel-full of prized bunnies, Dingo, Alpha and Omega at the OC Fair livestock auction in Costa Mesa on Saturday, July 21, 2018. (Photo by Mindy Schauer, Orange County Register/SCNG)

  • Masen Karsten, 13, with Trabuco Trailblazers 4H, is cheered on by her leader, Shelmarie Main, as she carries her Grand Champion market broilers, Drumstick and Nugget, to the auction ring at the OC Fair in Costa Mesa on Saturday, July 21, 2018. (Photo by Mindy Schauer, Orange County Register/SCNG)

  • Cameron Cates, 7, carries a sign into the auction ring hyping his cousin’s Grand Champion market lamb, “Gomer” at the OC Fair in Costa Mesa on Saturday, July 21, 2018. (Photo by Mindy Schauer, Orange County Register/SCNG)

  • Cameron Cates, 7, carries a sign into the auction ring hyping his cousin Sarah Mills’ Grand Champion market lamb, “Gomer” at the OC Fair in Costa Mesa on Saturday, July 21, 2018. Mills, a Sunny Hills High School student is with the Clover Leaf 4H. (Photo by Mindy Schauer, Orange County Register/SCNG)

  • Aden Cota, 15, bathes “Jax,” owned by Amanda Buettner, 17, before he goes to auction at the OC Fair in Costa Mesa on Saturday, July 21, 2018. They are both students from La Habra High School and members of FFA.(Photo by Mindy Schauer, Orange County Register/SCNG)

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As OC Fair-goers filled up on fried food and adrenaline-pumping rides, students with Orange County 4H and Future Farmers of America gathered under a large canopy where several hundred buyers attended an auction.

This was the students’ final stop in a year-long journey of raising and caring for their farm animals. Goats, rabbits, chicken, cows and pigs, all given names like Hank, Andre the Giant, Drumstick, Nugget and Wesson, paraded before bidders.

Mills, a Clover Leaf 4-H member says she doesn’t get emotional about selling her animal for slaughter. She’s been earning money doing this since she was 10-years-old, she said.

Gomer, a 122-pound Grand Champion market lamb, earned Sarah Mills, 17, of Yorba Linda $10.50 a pound.

Lessons were learned about hard work, responsibility and earning money. There was camaraderie, too.

Masen Karsten, 13, with Trabuco Trailblazers 4H, couldn’t wait to congratulate Dylan Mongan, 18, with Orange Acres Backbreakers 4H, after his turkey, “Andre the Great,” fetched top dollar.