The crowd grows quiet as the numbers grow larger, anticipating the long-winded man shouting quickly to come to an abrupt halt.

Five thousand dollars, six thousand, seven thousand. The price continues to increase until it finally leaves everyone breathless.

Scenes such as this are not uncommon at the Butler Farm Show's 4-H FFA Livestock Auction, where youngsters sell their yearlong projects to community members and businesses. The auction next week is set for Aug. 11.

Jim Lokhaiser, the recording secretary and director of marketing and advertising, said most grand champions and reserve grand champions sell at high prices.

This may leave some wondering why anyone would spend so much on cattle, goats and other livestock that can be had for less at other venues.

Lokhaiser said the answer is simple: Education.

“It's mostly these larger companies that want to help these kids,” he said.

The 4-H auction is the capstone project for its members. The youngsters raise their livestock with great care in feeding, sheltering and grooming the animals, striving for championship status.

After the animals are bought, it is not uncommon for them to be returned to those who raised them.

“Sometimes the companies turn the animal back over to the kid,” Lokhaiser said. “It's just a gesture on their part.

Other times, the companies use the opportunity to reach out to other charitable causes.

“The big steers, they'll have them butchered and give the meat to the food banks and such,” Lokhaiser said.

The auction seems to provide many opportunities for helping community members and organizations. The North Washington Fire Department has seen and used the auction to achieve goals.

Dave Hazlett, the department's president and rodeo committee chairman, said it buys a steer each year and repurposes the animal for its fundraiser. The VFD raffles the animal in its annual rodeo benefit.

“Fifty years, we've been doing it,” Hazlett said. “It's worked pretty well.”

Hazlett said last year the department bought a reserve grand champion that weighed more than 1,100 pounds, and it plans to return again this year.

In previous years, some sponsors would buy the steer for the department, so it could maximize profits. In the past few years, the VFD has been buying the animal itself, so it does so carefully to make some money.

“The goal is to make more money than we spend,” Hazlett said.

Hazlett said the department has to take title and price into consideration when bidding. He said it tries for the steer with the highest title in the company's price range. He said the higher the title, the better.

Hazlett said when people and companies buy the higher titled animals, they become a popular topic around town. He said it works as advertising, which can be used to raise more money.

Hazlett said the money the fire company raises through its raffle helps the firefighters stay as safe as possible with new gear, vehicles and maintenance. He said there may even be a new tanker in the near future.

“Pretty much everything we have we make the payments on all of it with this money,” Hazlett said.

Hazlett said it is all thanks to the auction and the youths raising the animals and providing the forum for the community. He said it is also a great way to support future generations of farmers the 4-H and its members.

“I think it's a great fundraiser for these kids,” Hazlett said.

Lokhaiser said this feeling is pretty much the consensus with other buyers too, and he couldn't be happier with the growth in the community as the auction continues to bring people together.

“I think these companies have a sense of responsibility,” he said. “It's a sense of community involvement.”

“They make sure these kids get money for their school,” Lokhaiser said.