CONNOQUENESSING TWP - It was sweaty, but she didn't notice.

The cadence of the auctioneer taking the price higher caught her attention.

The eruptions of cheers when the numbers broke records got her excited.

It was a record-setting night for Elaina Rader and others at the junior livestock auction at the Butler Farm Show Thursday night. Six records for champions or reserve champions were set.

Rader, 18, of Connoquenessing Township, broke a record set in 1993 and repeated in 2003.

"It was unbelievable," she said.

In the spotlight between the fast-talking auctioneer and the focused audience, she posed her grand champion lamb and led it in a circle.

The hoots started once the price passed the $10 per pound record and became emphatic when it inched toward $15, easily surpassing her personal record of about $2.

Rader has been raising lambs for eight years, and this, her last year as a member of the 4-H Livestock Club, was the first year she had a grand champion, she said."I can't explain it," she said.She said she couldn't pinpoint any specific thing she did better this year.But something - maybe sending letters to potential buyers in April or maybe making herself available to answer questions - worked.Something worked for Dayna Filges, 18, of Oakland Township, as well.She tied the record she set last year of $7 per pound with her grand champion steer."This is what I look forward to all year," she said.Weighing in at 1,325 pounds, she raised $9,275 in minutes for her 4-H Premiere Club.The record for reserve champion rabbit meat pen was also tied at $650. There are three rabbits per pen.Beating previous records were grand champion hog, $12.50; reserve champion hog, $8; and reserve champion steer, $6.50.The previous record for reserve champion hog, $6.10, was 15 years old.While Filges wasn't in the arena for long, two other 4-H members said there were months of hard work behind what anyone raised Thursday.

Ashley Foertsch, 17, and Jessica Klabnick, 16, made that point to any potential buyers who came by their cattle pen before the auction.Answering their questions about feed, breed and how they behave on a lead, Jessica of Buffalo Township had high expectations for Eric Jr., and she knew that meant this was one of her last days with him.There is no Eric Sr.; her steer was named after a friend from school, and she admits she has gotten a little attached to him.But, she said raising cows on her family farm is a business, and to stay in business she has to sell her commodity.Eric Jr. fetched $1.10 per pound.Ashley of Jefferson Township brought Gus and Jack to the farm show with her. She said even though she prepares all year, when auction day comes she just steps into the arena and hopes for the best.It couldn't have gone better for Elaina when she stepped into the arena."Do I hear $15.50? Do I hear $16.50? Do I hear $17?"Sold for $16.50 (per pound)."When she stepped out of the arena, it was to a barrage of hugs and congratulations.