After 69 years as Washington County Fair auctioneer, Keith Murphy retires

Reporter’s note: This story was reported on, written and edited shortly before Keith Murphy’s death on July 23, but it reached print-edition news stands the day after, on July 24. The Southeast Iowa Union was saddened to learn of Mr. Murphy's passing Thursday morning, and offers its sincere condolences to his family and friends. Services for the deceased are pending at the Jones & Eden Funeral Home.

WASHINGTON — With nearly seven decades’ worth of Washington County Fair livestock auctions under his belt, longtime auctioneer Keith Murphy facilitated his final sale Friday, July 18.

The county fair’s signature auctioneer is now retired, after running the show every year since 1956. He got a standing ovation at this summer’s event, an end-of-week tradition for livestock exhibitors and local ag-adjacent companies which pay well above an animal’s market value in an effort to reward showmen for their months and years of hard work.

Murphy said he was honored by the decades spent facilitating those sales, and for his own involvement in 4-H before sharing it with his own descendants.

“We’ve done 4-H for so many years because … it’s what you do,” he said at the auction, according to a social media post from Washington County 4-H. “It teaches kids good things. We grew up with it, our kids grew up with it, and now grand kids.”

Murphy is known to virtually every family involved with the fair. He was recognized as a 4-H alumni of the year in 2022, and is an inductee to the county’s 4-H Hall of Fame.

Washington County 4-H and FFA Youth Coordinator Amy Green said the goodbye was, “Such a bittersweet tribute to a longtime 4-H volunteer,” adding, “I've only worked with Keith for 15 of his 69 years, but what an honor to share his story with our 4-H family at the fair yesterday. It was an honor to provide special time in a special place to recognize him.”

Murphy closed Friday’s sale with an especially proud moment: the auction of cows raised by his granddaughter, Maya Murphy, who said animals went for $3.25 and $3.50 per pound.

Comments: Kalen.McCain@southeastiowaunion.com