Jr. Livestock Auction scheduled Saturday

The 50th annual Junior Livestock Auction will go on as planned this Saturday, Aug. 23, at the County Fairgrounds in Hayfork.

Although the fair scheduled for this weekend has been canceled because of the fires and resultant fire camp at the Fairgrounds, the animal showmanship events and livestock auction will proceed as planned, said Fair Manager Jerry Fulton.

"They have these animals ready for that day," he said. "There's no way to hold them."

"There's going to be some really prime animals here for people to buy," Fulton added. "From what I've seen, they're really looking good."

In the large animal categories, there will be 14 steers, 26 lambs and 104 hogs. That is fewer steers than last year, but more lambs and roughly the same number of hogs.

The buyers' luncheon that precedes the auction will be held at noon Saturday, and it will be held next to the show ring rather than in the dining hall. The livestock auction will start at 2 p.m. Saturday at its usual location at the Joe and Mary Borden junior show ring.

With the Junior Livestock Auction each year, months of careful preparation pay off for the many Trinity County youth entering animals. Most have been entered by members of Trinity County's 4-H or Future Farmers of America clubs, but they can also come from any independent sellers between the ages of 9 and 19.

Judging and weigh-in of animals start on Wednesday. Animals are examined for meat quality and quantity. On Thursday, the owners are judged on their showmanship skills. This is a good time to watch some of the showmanship classes in which the youth demonstrate how they have worked with their animals and their knowledge about their species by answering questions from the judges.

Junior livestock auction buyers are typically generous, having donated hundreds of thousands of dollars over the years toward the future endeavors of Trinity County youth.

Champion swine can fetch as much as $15.50 a pound, and a pen of rabbits might go for $50 a pound. Many of the buyers then donate the meat for the annual Trinity Livestock Barbecue held at Lowden Park in Weaverville. Proceeds from the barbecue go to Trinity County 4- H clubs and Trinity County Future Farmers of America. A barbecue will be held this year as well, but a date has not yet been set.