A MEATY CHANGE: COUNTY FAIR’S FFA MARKET ANIMALS TO BE JUDGED & AUCTIONED VIRTUALLY DUE TO COVID

By Rebecca Jefferis Williamson

(Photo, at left, courtesy of Taryl Townsend)

April 21, 2020 (Lakeside) – For East County kids who raise pigs, cattle, sheep or goats through the Future Farmers of America program, a highlight each year is the live auction of their animals at the San Diego County Junior Fair. But due to the fair’s cancellation  amid the COVID-19 quarantine, the Eastern San Diego County Junior Fair’s market animals auction will be held virtually on May 14.

 Don Dyer of Alpine, president of the Eastern San Diego County Jr. Fair (ESDCJF) Lakeside division says the judging, typically done in person, will be switched to online video presentations of the animals. 

“Virtualstockshow.com will facilitate the judging and then the sale of the animals,” Dyer told ECM. “The exhibitors will make a 90 second video showing their market animals which will be evaluated and placed by the fair’s judges. Exhibitors will sign up and submit their videos on Saturday, May 9th.  Judging will happen on Thursday, May 14th, and the auction will be held online on Saturday May16th starting at noon.” 

Dyer noted that typically there are more categories in the competition, but this year will only involve the market animals up for sale to individuals or stores. 

“The Lakeside community has always been supportive and buys them for their freezers,” said Dyer.

How do the youth see this turn of events? One participant gave her perspective.

“We have to see it (the covid-19 pandemic quarantine) as something that we overcame,” said Taryl Townsend a junior at Mt. Empire High School who lives in Boulevard. 

Townsend will prepare a video of her two lambs, Decker and Billy, showing one in Lakeside and one in Del Mar. 

“I bought them from Dry Creek Farms for roughly $400,” she said. “I expect to break even.” 

Townsend has been diligently feeding and exercising her livestock.

“I walk my lambs two miles a day and put them on a stand with an incline for 10-15 minutes,” she said. “They are strictly on High Noon Feeds grain food.” The are washed and receive a blow-out before the presentation.

Here are the nuts and bolts of the auction:

“Animals will be dispersed to the buyers on Monday, May 18th. Other fairs are doing similar things. Market animals will still be evaluated based on market readiness, just through a video format,” Dyer continued. “Exhibitors will receive the usual fair prizes; every exhibitor will receive a blue ribbon for animals that are market ready.  Belt buckles and banners for champions and reserve champions of each species (beef, hogs, sheep and goats). Exhibitors will receive their auction proceeds from the fair. Exhibitors range in age from 9 to18 and are members of local 4-H clubs and FFA chapters.”

(Photo at right of last year's fair board courtesy of Don Dyer.)

Dyer explained the work involved and the prizes.

“Exhibitors have had their animals since August for the cattle and January for all other species,” said Dyer. “Exhibitors spend time with their projects everyday feeding, cleaning and training their animals for the show. Exhibitors depend on the success of the auction to be able to market their projects and recoup their investment or to make a profit on their project. Depending on the type of project, individual exhibitors have between $500 and $3,000 invested in their projects. We have 140 market entries.” 

The ESDCJF has been around since the late 40's. Dyer adds, “The Investment For Youth scholarship Fund is run through the fair and awards scholarships to senior exhibitors in the fair every year.  Scholarships of between $500.00 to $5000.00 have been awarded to numerous exhibitors every year. Scholarships are funded through donations to the scholarship fund during the auction and sales of candy and ice cream during the fair.”

(Photo at left - exhibitor Haley Attig from El Capitan FFA, her mother, brother, and grand champion hog courtesy of Don Dyer.) 

This fair is a non-profit organization supported 100% through volunteer fundraising. 

Visit https://esdcjf.org/  or https://sdfair.com/exhibits/livestock-market-show/   for more information.

IDEAS FOR BUYERS

Individuals 

• Have the meat cut to your preference. Put quality meat in your freezer. 

• Form a cooperative and divide the processed meat with a friend.

 • Buy a quality animal and resell it at market price to the commercial packer at the auction by checking the “sell to packer” option on the sales slip and absorbing the cost difference as a contribution to the FFA and 4 -H programs.

 Service Clubs 

• Auction off packaged meat to members. Boost your treasury. • Schedule a gift to a charity. 

• Put on a club barbeque. 

Businesses 

 Present packaged meat to your customers or as a promotion.

• Auction packaged meat for an employee fund. 

• Put on a barbeque for employees.

Restaurants and Markets 

• Display quality meat for advertising.