A record total of $642,568.75 was reached at Saturday’s 4-H and FFA Market Livestock Sale, which garnered interest outside the state when bidding moved online due to the COVID-19 pandemic.

Buyers registered from as far away as California and Connecticut to bid on lambs, steers and hogs raised by hundreds of Flathead County 4-H and FFA members to according to a press release from the Kalispell Chamber of Commerce. Buyers either keep the processed meat, donate it to a nonprofit, or sell the purchase back at a reduced price.

Members keep the money earned from selling their animals and many youths choose to use a portion toward purchasing an animal for next year’s market livestock project or save up for college.

The sale is organized by the chamber, Northwest Montana Fair, local 4-H clubs and Flathead FFA.

This year’s Friend of the Sale award went to Joe Unterreiner, Kalispell Chamber of Commerce president and CEO. The award honors outstanding, longtime supporters of the livestock sale.

“Joe, who will be retiring from his position in November, has lead the chamber’s efforts as one of the organizers of the sale for the last 24 years and played a key role in the event being consistently recognized as one of the top sales in a multi-state area,” the release stated.

Grand champion winners and purchasers are as follows:

Market beef grand champion — Maddie Sutton, 4-H. Purchased by Super One Foods

Market beef reserve champion — Hayden Hansen, 4-H. Purchased by Hansen Excavating

Market hog grand champion — Jessa Morris, 4-H. Purchased by Corwin Motors.

Market hog reserve champion — Jessica Hanson, 4-H. Purchased by Wilkinson Construction

Market lamb grand champion — Bailey Lake, 4-H. Purchased by Lower Valley Processing

Market lamb reserve champion — Anna Morrison of FFA and purchased by Flathead County Sheriff’s Office Association.