Phillips County Fair Spotlight for August 12, 2015

Robert Plouffe did not grow up in the country raising livestock but he has a lot to do with them after a fair. Robert and Betty Plouffe purchased the grocery and meat market in Saco from Buck and Deb Taylor in 1982. In 2000 they moved into the current Saco Pay-n-Save and by 2001 were handling the butchering for beef, pork and lamb after the county fairs. Livestock is brought from the Blaine County Fair in Chinook, the Phillips County Fair in Dodson and the Valley County Fair in Glasgow. On average the crew from the Pay-n-Save slaughter 13 to 14 beef plus 8 to 12 pork weekly. A lamb to slaughter is more sporadic, but not after a county fair. This year the Phillips County Fair pigs out number the beef and lambs. Robert mentioned his friend and fellow butcher, Leonard Leader, can remember when there were 80 to 90 beef to process after one county fair. The numbers for livestock and 4-H or FFA members may have decreased but the enthusiasm for the programs has not. Part of showing an animal at the fair is selling them at auction. Robert commends those who have donated their time and trucks to haul the livestock to the Pay-n-Save and mentioned Mark Holman, Jay Yeska and Kevin Shettel (among others) on that service. Robert also allows the Extension Agents and Meat Inspectors the space to perform the 4-H and FFA carcass judging. There will be many fair animals arriving. The old store could only hold 5 or 6 beef, but the new freezer will hold 36 to 38 beef at full length (most freezers only hang beef in quarters). He says the pork and lamb don't take up too much space so he isn't too worried about them. Robert will be at the Phillips County Fair livestock auction and Saco Pay-n-Save is one of the many local businesses who support area youth by purchasing 4-H and FFA animals. Robert would like to thank his crew of 8 workers in the butcher shop and his wife Betty and 3 workers in the grocery store who help to make it all work. He would also like to thank all the parents who keep the kids going and work hard to keep the kids interested and keep the circle going.