Photo by Bill Green Maggie Lanham and her Overall Grand Champion steer, Micky, await their turn in the auction ring Thursday night at the annual 4-H Beef, Swine and Sheep Sale.

While her head of cattle, one about 210 animals for sale, didn't win Thursday, the reserve grand champion fetched $17,486 and the grand champion went for $15,780. Concrete General, based in Montgomery County, bought both.

The reserve grand champion was owned by Cory Krietz of Frederick , a member of the Johnsville 4-H Club. The grand champion was owned by Maggie Lanham, a member of the Rocky Ridge 4-H Club.

Two years ago, a champion head of cattle sold for as much as $25,000, said state Delegate Paul Stull, clerk for the auction.

Thursday's sale was expected to generate approximately $450,000, said Mark Butler, one of four 4-H beef superintendents. Money from the sale benefits the Frederick County Livestock Judging program, Therapeutic Riding Club, the Beef, Sheep and Swine Club, scholarship programs and 4-H.

"Most of us (4-H'ers) raise our cattle to bring to the fair," Murphy said. "The money we make gives us the opportunity to continue our projects the rest of the year."

Murphy, 18, has sold her beef cattle at the fair for nine years. She's not sure how much money her cattle have brought in over the years.

"But it's a lot," she said. "The cost depends on what the buyers are looking for. It could be that they are looking for a certain breed or the type of meat they want."

Not every animal is sold, Butler said.

"A lot of kids with animals don't get to sell their animals because the animal may not meet certain requirements," he said.

All beef cattle is not the same, said Murphy, who is also first runner-up, 2007 Frederick County 4-H Queen. She would rather eat the animals she raised.

"Some people inject their animals with stuff to make it grow fast," she said. "I know what (mine have) been fed."

Murphy said she has two steers that she will take home after the fair to butcher.

"I'll probably sell one and put the other in the freezer," she said.

More meat

Woodsboro -based Dorsey's Meats sells its products at the fairgrounds Farmers Market throughout the year. Fair week is a bonus, said Ray Dorsey, 75, who helps run the business with his son, Michael.

"We sell more during fair week for the simple reason that we are open more days," Dorsey said. "And we look forward to meeting people we've dealt with for years."

Dorsey's Meats offers more than fresh meat, Ray said.

"You get top-notch personalities," he said.

The fifth-generation business, started in 1859, also makes home deliveries and sells to national chain supermarkets, including Food Lion and Safeway, he said.

Frederick resident Sherry Stull said she has been buying Dorsey's Meats for years. She often ships Dorsey's hams to friends in California who have requested them.