Inviting Buyers
to the Jr. Livestock Sale
The Jr. Livestock project ends each season with a sale right after the show. The sale is an important part of the program that many, many volunteers and supporters make possible. If you are new, I promise you will leave the sale with a heart full of gratitude for so many individuals and businesses that believe in your kids and what they are learning in this program. There are so, so many that give to this program!
How a Jr. Livestock Auction Works
The first thing to know is that the Jr. Livestock committee has what's called a "floor buyer" for each species at the show. This is someone in the livestock industry that has committed to buy all of the animals for a specific price per pound. This price will reflect current market prices in the livestock industry. All of the animals will sell. You don't have to worry about "if" the animal will sell. The floor buyer sets the floor price.
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In addition to the floor buyers there are many other buyers that show up to support the kids by bidding above the floor price. Each kid comes in the ring one at a time. Bidding starts and continues until the animal is sold. The winner of the bid can:
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Keep the animal and take it home. (This is possible for females that can be used for breeding.)
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Send the animal directly to a packer and pick up the meat after it is processed.
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Support the exhibitor. This means the animal goes to the floor buyer who will take the animal. The floor buyer pays the per pound price set before the show and the auction buyer pays the difference. For example if the auction bid is $1200 and the floor price is $300, the buyer pays $900 in support of the exhibitor and the floor buyer pays $300 and takes the animal to the next step along the farm-to-fork process.
Your Responsibility: Invite Buyers to the Sale
Yes, your animals will sell, but each exhibitor has a responsibility to help the sale be successful by inviting individuals and businesses to the sale. Think of businesses you support. Your orthodontists, dentists, feed stores, insurance companies, banks, etc. etc. As the program grows and more kids participate, we want to help more businesses know about this awesome program.
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Why would an individual or business want to buy an animal in the sale? Supporting a junior livestock sale is a tax deductible donation. It also provides some advertising as buyers are listed in show publications. In addition, buyers often do this to give back to their community and to help young people keep learning important life skills. Businesses also like to support because it shows they care about local families and agriculture. In the end, it’s not just about buying an animal—it’s about investing in the future (your kids!).
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The first step is to make an invitation. Most kids use Canva at school. That's an easy way to start. Create an invitation that has all of the information about the show and sale. If you have more than one child participating, they can make individual invitations, or a family invitation. Here are a couple of examples. Make your own front page and then you are welcome to use the back page I have made with all the details they need.
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Prepare your kids:
Before you send your kids out with invitations, prepare them a little bit. This is good practice for your kids to learn how to talk to other adults. Help them practice what to say. Here is an example:​
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"Are you familiar with the 4-H Jr. Livestock program? In May I bought a [lamb] that I have been raising through the summer. I have learned how to take care of it and prepare it for the show that is next week. After the show there is an auction where the lambs are sold.
If your business participates in the auction, the donation is tax deductible. You will also be listed as a buyer in the show programs for next year for advertising.
(Show them the back of the invitation that explains the 3 ways they can support the auction.)
If you'd like to participate in the sale without coming to the auction, call my 4-H leaders. They are happy to do it for you. They can even coordinate if you'd like to split the bid with another business and only pay half. (Show them our phone numbers on the back of the sheet.)
If you'd like to boost my animal, boosts will be submitted online. I can send you a text or email with the link or you can use this QR code. It'll be available starting on [date], and continue until the next [date]" (get the phone number or email they want the link sent to.)