Player gives up fair auction to support Balers
First-string football players are not usually congratulated for
doing their job
– playing a game, but all week Haybaler defensive tackle Sam
Doty has been praised for doing just that.
Player gives up fair auction to support Balers
First-string football players are not usually congratulated for doing their job – playing a game, but all week Haybaler defensive tackle Sam Doty has been praised for doing just that.
Doty and other players involved in the fair had permission from their coaches to leave the game at halftime. He had two prize-winning hogs at the San Benito County Fair, the Reserve Grand Champion and the Reserve FFA Market Gilt hogs.
During the fair, 4-H and FFA members who raised livestock have the chance to auction off their animals. Many participants use the money they earn to purchase a new animal.
The auction coincided with the second half of the football game. Although the Balers were behind at halftime, the score was close enough that they had a chance to win. Doty decided to stay and play in the game instead of leaving for the auction.
“It was all kind of my choice,” Doty said. “[The coaches] knew I had other commitments.”
If an entrant misses the auction they automatically receive the market price for the animal. The prices at auction are significantly higher than market price, so it was a big decision for Doty. Hogs fetched an average of $7.80 per pound at the auction. Market price is only 48 cents per pound.
“At halftime I was thinking what to do. I was thinking money or team,” Doty said.
Doty said he felt the team needed him.
“All the people who already left were kind of my backups,” said Doty, of the players who left to attend the auction. “I didn’t want to leave my team when we were losing.”
The players who were available to take his place don’t usually play, according to Doty, and he didn’t want to leave his team in that position.
Becky Doty, Doty’s mother, was worried for her son throughout the game.
“I thought they would lose the game and he would miss the sale,” Becky said.
With Doty still on the field, the Haybalers won a game for the first time this season. Instead of celebrating with his team, Doty’s mother drove him as fast as she could to the auction at Bolado Park.
“It was quite a wild ride,” Becky said.
Doty agreed.
“Things are flying all over because we’re going as fast as we can,” Doty said. “We might have been pulled over if we went any faster. We tried to be safe and so we wore our seatbelts.”
When he decided to stay at the game, Doty knew he might miss both his spots in the auction.
“The rules were sent out before the fair,” Becky said. “Knowing that, at halftime he knew the decision he was making. He knew what he was giving up. It was a moment to be proud of your son.”
Doty missed both his spots at the auction. He missed his spot for his second hog by minutes.
“It’s just kind of bad luck, you know? Just five minutes late,” Doty said.
Doty does regret missing the auction, but not much.
“There’s a tiny bit of regret,” Doty said. “All the kids want that end of the year money to get a car or something.”
Market price doesn’t even cover what he spent on feeding the hogs for the year.
“It does put us in kind of a hole,” said Doty, but he is confident the family will make the money up next year.
Although he missed the auction Doty still had fun at the fair.
“It was a good fair overall,” Doty said. “It’s how much fun you get out of the project, not how much money you get out of the project. I know that I’m having fun.”
He also appreciates all the praise.
“It was a pretty big sacrifice but I’m just kind of happy that people were giving me compliments about what I had done,” Doty said. “It felt great. That beats money everyday.”
