The Hayden family said they continue to be amazed by the results of the Scioto County Fair livestock sale on Saturday. Andy Hayden’s hog was sold for $34,000 to 65 known buyers.

Andy was a student and athlete at Portsmouth High School. He had also attended Valley High School. He was a member of the 4-H and Boy Scout Troop #23.

“We continue to be overwhelmed and amazed at what happened. We are proud that the community thought that much of our son,” said Andy’s mother Susie Hayden.

Throughout Saturday, 4-H’ers donated portions of their auction money to the Andy Hayden 4-H fund, collecting $2,770, which was added to the total.

“Throughout the (fair) week I had several kids come and talk to me about how much he (Andy) had helped them in the past, had showed them ways of taking care of their pig or how best to show the pigs,” Hayden said. “I did not realize how much he (Andy) had done while he was at the fair.”

The opening bid for Hayden’s hog was $10,000, which shattered the previous Scioto County Fair record of $7,800.

As the bids came in the crowd rose to their feet, and many had tears in their eyes.

Area business owners, who had not planned to bid on the animal, came forward near the end of the bidding and decided to give some more.

Susie Hayden said the family is hopeful they will be able to establish a memorial award in Andy’s name that will be given out at the fair each year.

“This makes us proud to be from Scioto County. The community has made things easier in our eyes and we want to be able to take this and make it a positive,” Susie Hayden said. “We are also going to move forward knowing that he (Andy) is there with us every step of the way.”

Susie Hayden said Andy told Jayson Crabtree two years ago that his name would be on the fair’s record board.

“To know that he’s there and will be there for a while is very humbling,” Hayden said.

WAYNE ALLEN may be reached at (740) 353-3101, ext. 208, or wallen@heartlandpublications.com.