Wolfpack Roundup is a springtime success story
The success of Wolfpack Roundup continues. The annual student-led livestock sale, hosted by the Animal Science Department of the College of Agriculture and Life Sciences, brought in a sales total of $24,580 – up more than $4,000 from last year — on 21 lots put up at the auction. It was held Saturday, April 11, at NC State University’s Beef Educational Unit, Lake Wheeler Road Field Labs.
CALS Agricultural Institute graduate Andrew Bray served as auctioneer, as CALS instructor Gary Gregory’s livestock merchandizing students trotted out the animals to patrons who came to bid on cattle, horses and sheep from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. that day.
The Wolfpack Roundup is run entirely by the students in the class, who prepare the animals, collect information for the catalog, create advertisements and work with prospective buyers. All animals – including beef cattle, yearling horses, ewes, rams and does – were raised at NC State University facilities. Proceeds from the event go to the respective educational units the animals came from, to help with operating expenses.
Said Gregory, the animals presented for sale at the live auction included one registered Angus, one registered Hereford and two commercial heifers from the Beef Educational Unit; six bred ewes (and their offspring) and two fall-born ewes from the Small Ruminant Educational Unit; six yearling horses (three geldings and three fillies) from the Equine Educational Unit; and two registered Angus cow/calf pairs and one registered Angus heifer from the Upper Piedmont Research Station in Reidsville.
The class was started to give students the opportunity to learn about the various methods of merchandizing livestock, Gregory said. Throughout the semester, the students hear from livestock producers, professional auctioneers, livestock sale managers and others associated with the livestock business, he said, noting that the lessons culminate in the students’ gaining “hands-on experience through promoting and conducting a livestock auction.” – Terri Leith
