Representatives from Crossroad Farms and River Valley Resilience Retreat stand with the 2023 charity steer. (Nigel Maxwell/paNOW Staff)

By Nigel Maxwell

Youth Leadership

4-H charity steer raises nearly $26,000 for first responders retreat

Jun 13, 2023 | 1:15 PM

Wiping tears from her eyes, Prince Albert’s Michelle McKeaveney was overcome with emotion Monday afternoon.

River Valley Resilience Retreat, which McKeaveney co-founded, received nearly $26,000 from the charity steer auction at the Prince Albert Regional 4-H Beef Show and Sale. The auction was held on the exhibition grounds.

“It’s absolutely overwhelming and humbling, overwhelming and incredibly encouraging that people are finding value in what we are doing,” McKeaveney told paNOW.

The River Valley Resilience Retreat sits in the Rural Municipality of Prince Albert and, according to its website, offers Public Safety Personnel (PSP) a safe place to rest and rejuvenate among their peers.

Money raised from the auction will go towards the construction of five new cabins, and McKeaveney confirmed one will be dedicated in honour of 4-H.

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The charity steer was initially won by Crossroad Farms in a Dutch Auction featuring many local businesses. The proceeds from that auction were just over $21,000. The farm then donated the steer to be sold again. Nearly $5,000 was raised from the second sale.

“Not often if I’m speechless but I am today,” McKeaveney said.

Olivia Woytiuk spoke on behalf of Crossroad Farm and expressed how proud they were to help the cause.

“We’ve done the charity steer in the past and know the process of it and how work is involved but it is worth it, and we love to donate and give back to a charity like this,” she said.

The steer is led around by West PA club member Casey Wilson. (Nigel Maxwell/paNOW Staff)

Each year, the 4-H clubs rotate which members are responsible for raising the steer, and this year the honour went to the West PA 4-H Beef Club.

Katelynn Tait is President of the West PA 4H Beef Cub and explained being from the St. Louis area, River Valley is a local charity. She also noted close family connections to corrections, the fire department and EMS.

“It just really hits home and especially in Prince Albert, so many people are employed as first responders. It benefits the entire community to help out this charity,” she said.

Meanwhile, the 2023 Grand Champion Female was Shelby Woytiuk of Wild Rose Club, and the 2023 Reserve Grand Champion Female was Rebecca Porter of Weldon Club.

Woytiuk also had the Grand Champion Steer, which was sold to Fremont Trucking for $5.35/lb. Alea Beaulac of Wild Rose Club had the Reserve Grand Champion Steer which was sold to Beaulac Funeral Home for $6.00/lb.

The sale averaged $4.22 with the champions and $4.05 without the champions.

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nigel.maxwell@pattisonmedia.com

On Twitter: @nigelmaxwell