(Photo by Shelley Hanson) Beau Thomas holds his grand champion ham purchased by Justin Gaiser of Momentive during the Tyler County FFA Ham, Bacon, Egg and Bread Show & Sale on March 8.

The 75th annual Tyler County FFA Ham, Bacon, Egg, Bread Show & Sale raised thousands of dollars for the participating students during the auction held March 8 at Tyler Consolidated High School.

More than 100 lots of ham, bacon, eggs and bread were presented and sold, raising money for the student exhibitors and for the FFA scholarship fund.

Grand Champion Ham Exhibitor Beau Thomas’ buyer was Momentive Performance Materials $43 per pounds or $1,075;

Reserve Champion Ham Exhibitor Brandon Glover’s buyer was David Bowyer at $45 per pound or $1,158.75;

Grand Champion Bacon Exhibitor Brandon Glover’s buyer was Momentive Performance Materials at $143 per pound or $1,215.50;

Reserve Champion Bacon Exhibitor Peyton Headley’s buyer was Long Reach Federal Credit Union at $182.50 per pound or $1,460;

Grand Champion Eggs Exhibitor Conner Greathouse’s buyer was Linda Hoover at $1,050;

Reserve Champion Eggs Exhibitor Conner Greathouse’s buyer was the Tyler County Fair Association at $775;

Grand Champion Bread Exhibitor Beau Stewart’s buyer was Four Cardinals Farm at $775; and Reserve Bread Exhibitor Aaron Goff’s buyer was Home Transformations/Deborah Strode at $625.

The Tyler FFA Alumni Scholarship Ham was purchased byMcKinley Architecture and Engineering for $1,000. The Tyler FFA Alumni Scholarship Bacon was purchased by Pine Valley Farm/Erwin family for $1,250.

Annie Erwin, agriculture teacher at Tyler Consolidated and FFA advisor, said the students worked hard to prepare for the sale.

“All of this begins in October when we begin processing the pigs, and even before that when the students begin buying their animals in August,” she said. “They raise the animals from August to October to November, and then we process and cure.”

The students receive money from the sales, with a small commission kept by the school in case of any returns by buyers.

“All this money goes to the students for their supervised agricultural experience programs,” Erwin said.

Some people donated back items they purchased to be resold during the auction to help fund the Tyler FFA Scholarship program.

“We appreciate all the support from Tyler County and everybody who came, buyers from far and wide. Without all that support and all the people who help put this on it wouldn’t happen,” she said.

The Joe R. Pyle Auctions served as auctioneer during the sale. Ribbons for the exhibit were provided by Tim Aiken, president of Union Bank. Hams and bacon were judged by Steve Bonanno, retired from the West Virginia University Extension Service, and by Virgil Wilkins, retired Hundred High School agriculture instructor. Elizabeth Lynch, an animal science student at WVU, judged the eggs. Heritage Country Store provided bags. Farm Credit of the Virginias provided the bidder cards.

Erwin thanked Pleasants County Schools for allowing the FFA members to process their animals at St. Mary’s High School this year. She also thanked Hope Gas for sponsoring the buyers dinner held before the auction.

Erwin said the total dollars raised during the sale would be calculated and made available at a later date.