466 market animals sold during the Junior Livestock Auction at this weekend's Silver Dollar Fair. Most of the money went into the bank account of the kids who sold the animals, but for one FFA member and her market hog, the money went toward a higher cause. Reporter Rick Carhart has that story in tonight's kids in action.
nats arena
244 market hogs and their handlers made their way through the show ring at the Silver Dollar Fairgrounds this year.
Monica says, "it's fun being behind the scenes, I've never been back on this side of it, there's a lot of work these kids do."
This is Monica Vondra's first experience with the livestock program at the fair. She is the mother of twin six-year- old boys, one of whom has been battling leukemia since he was 2-1/2.
Mackenzie says, "this past week Jake went to the McDonalds playground for the first time."
Mackenzie McGinnis is a sophomore at Las Plumas High School. she has sold animals at the fair for the past seven years, but this year she was looking for some new motivation.
Mackenzie says, "I feel that people should be helping and donating back to the community, after all the community is the one buying our pigs so why not give back a little bit."
Mackenzie met Jake and his family through the Wings of Eagles program, and she decided to give all of her profits from the sale of her hog, "Henry", to Jake so he could take a trip to Southern California.
Monica says, "I can tell you right now I've got a couple excited 6 year old boys, they can't quite decide what to do but they know it has to do with rides."
The most likely destination is "Legoland" in Carlsbad...a trip the Vondra family never dreamed of.
Monica says, "we've been so consumed with taking care of our son and trying to keep our boys healthy and happy and then to have this breath of fresh air come into our life..."
While many kids use the money from selling their market animals for clothes or bikes or video games, this was a decision that Mackenzie says was easy, "it's not really about the things to me it's about the lifelong relationships...Jake will be my friend forever and I'll never regret doing this."
A sentiment that Monica appreciates more than she can say, "she's beautiful on the inside and out, and just knowing that she's thinking about my little Jake is just so touching."
The fact that Jake is now healthy enough to come to the fair and watch the auction made this fair day a great day.
