Spring Fever 2009 began on Friday morning with the cattle arriving and being washed.  Tom Burke, Angus Hall of Fame sales manager arrived by lunchtime to begin last minute preparations.  All the cattle had arrived by mid afternoon.  Since we did the handbook dedication at our annual meeting in January, there were no Friday evening activities. 

Saturday morning buyers began registering and with breeding update and sale order in hand they began viewing the cattle.  A table was set up with some silent auction items for the Endowment for Excellence and the Angus Cattle Drive.  There was semen for the North Carolina Junior Angus to help finance their trip in August to the LEAD Conference in California.  There were other Junior items auctioned. 

The sale began with lot A; four embryos donated by Keaton Vandemark of Vandemark Angus, Spring Hope, North Carolina.  The proceeds from this generous donation will go toward the Junior’s LEAD conference trip to San Francisco.  This special set of embryos is from the famous Dixie Erica family and was sired by BC Marathon 7022.  Gold Hill Angus purchased these embryos for $1,600.00.  Thank you to Kenny and Keaton for helping our Angus Juniors!

Top selling lot was lot 48, a bred heifer consigned by Primus Genetics, Leonard Fussell, Millers Creek, NC.  A Mytty in Focus, October 2007 daughter out of Basin Chloe 6198, she is due in October to SS Objective T510 0T26.  She sold for $6,500.00 to Dubas Cattle Company in Fullerton, Nebraska.

Top selling cow/calf pair was lot 26 & 26A consigned by Mike McDowell, Locust Level Farms of Vernon Hill, Virginia.  This 2-year-old GAR Predestined dam was sold with a January bull calf sired by ALC Big Eye D09N.  She was purchased by Wayne Palmer, Herango Farms, Nathalie, Virginia for $3,500.00.

Top selling bred heifers were lots 24 and 45 each selling for $3,000.00.  Lot 24 was consigned by Andy House, House Farms, Smithfield, NC; a GAR Predestined daughter due in October to SS Objective T510 0T26.  She was purchased by John Tirelis, Alberta, Virginia. Lot 45 was consigned by Ike Jackson, Pasquotank Farms, Elizabeth City, NC.  She was an OCC Hunter 928H daughter bred to OCC Emblazon 854E and due in November.  James Grant, Kendleton, Texas, purchased her.

Top open heifer was lot 22, also consigned by House Farms of Smithfield, a February 2008 BR Midland granddaughter.  She sold to Robbie Taylor of Smithfield for $1,700.00. 
Volume buyer was Brockmere Farms of Brookfield, Missouri; they purchased 13 lots for $14,100.00.