This year’s Seneca County Junior Fair livestock auction raised nearly $70,000 more than last year’s sale, according to preliminary figures. The two-day sale, including commercial and farmers’ bids, generated $396,238, according to preliminary totals. Preliminary totals for the past five years were $367,998 in 2005; $355,076 in 2006; $377,340 in 2007; $352,425 in 2008; and $328,408 in 2009. Scott Kiesel, a member of the livestock sale committee and co-coordinator of the Seneca County Junior Fair Livestock Buyers’ Group with his wife, Stacey, said he thinks the increase was due to higher commodity prices — or base bids representing market prices — and an increase in commercial bids. A slight boost to the commodity prices and a slight boost to the commercial bids makes a big difference, he said. Kiesel said he didn’t have a goal for what the sale would raise, and officials were hoping the sale total would be better than last year. Hopefully the economy is recovering a little, he said.