Pig sale generates $132,700 in sales

By Donnie A. Lucas

It was a banner year at the 37th annual First Impressions pig sale benefiting the Shackelford County Youth and Livestock Association on Sunday, including the largest number of pigs sold, most buyers, and the highest gross sales.

According to organizer Mike Parsons, a total of 128 head was sold, amounting to $132,700 in sales.

The highest selling individual didn’t set a record but was still a big number at $9,600. That record was set last year with a price of $20,000 paid for the grand champion boar pig. In 2021 the top pig sold for $5,000.

This year’s top seller was a Chester White from Indiana.

The sale drew about 275 registered buyers, with 15 percent sold to online bidders. This is the second year that the sale has offered online bidding.

The event netted about $10,000 for the livestock association this year, almost double from last year’s proceeds, according to Parsons.

“We doubled the amount for the association with total sales being up and the concession stand completely selling out,” Parsons said.

He added that the bidders and consignees were all impressed with the recent improvements at the county show barn, which were completed just in time for the event.

“We got a lot of compliments on the barn and how the consignees were treated by the association and the community,” he said.

Parsons thanked all the local volunteers who made the sale possible.

“It takes a lot of people to pull this off,” he said.

The sale added live music to the Saturday night barbecue, and Parsons said the Sunday morning church service was very well attended.

It is estimated that the pig sale has raised well over $100,000 over the last 37 years for the association and Shackelford County youth.

“Our breeders really brought some of their best stock this year, and I think the sale results speak for themselves,” Parsons said. “Part of that is due to the show held before the sale and the prize money that is donated.”