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Auction Information for 4-H Youth

SPRING WEIGH-IN: TBD

This year's 4-H Livestock Spring Weigh - TBD. Stay tuned on educational opportunities and demonstration schedule. This event is mandatory for all large livestock auction participants!

4-H LIVESTOCK AUCTION

Mandatory Livestock Market Participation Forms

Intent to Sell and Sifting Committee Memorandum:
  • 2024 Intent to Sell
  • 2024 Sifting Committee Memorandum
– Due 6/1/24 to WSU Extension Office for all LARGE ANIMALS (market beef, alternative beef, hog, meat goat, lamb) or at the Livestock Spring Weigh-in TBD
OR
– Due 7/25/24 to WSU Extension Office with Fair entry forms for all SMALL ANIMALS (poultry, rabbit) and eggs

 

Producer Affidavits and Health Records:
– Due 8/14/24 at the Final Weigh-in at the San Juan County Fairgrounds

4-H LIVESTOCK MARKET ANIMAL AUCTION RULES AND ELIGIBILITY (2022)

Date: Saturday, August 20, 2022
Auction Registration: 12:00 pm to 1:00 pm
Location: 4-H Livestock Arena, San Juan County Fairgrounds
Superintendent: LeAnne GrosJacques-Burt

General Rules:

AUCTION PURPOSE: To provide an incentive to exhibit and sell quality market stock beef, sheep, swine, meat goats, poultry, poultry eggs and rabbits which have reached marketable weight and grade. The 4-H youth seller and the bidders and/or buyers are reminded that the prices paid to the seller on their animal may not, in fact, reflect a true market price at the time of the sale. It is the desire of the sponsors that the buyer of the animals featured in this sale will bid sufficiently to cover the individual Exhibitor’s additional expenses incurred. Any animal sold in the auction must be suitable for processing at the time of the sale.

SIFTING COMMITTEE: The Livestock Market Animal Auction Committee (LMAAC) will form two sifting committees with a minimum of five members and be present at final weigh-in the Tuesday prior to fair from 6pm to 8pm for large animal (market beef, swine, lamb and meat goat) and at a predetermined time for small animal (poultry and rabbit).  The committee will be made up the following two groups:

Large Animal Sifting Committee/Small Animal Sifting Committee

  • Veterinarian (hired by SJC Fair)
  • Livestock Auction Chair(s)
  • Livestock Superintendent/Poultry Superintendent/Rabbit & Cavy Superintendent
  • WSU Ext., County Director or 4H Faculty
  • 4-H Livestock Volunteer from Livestock/4-H Livestock Volunteer from Small Animal

The purpose of the Sifting Committee is to review all market animals at the San Juan County Fair insuring that the rules established by San Juan County Fair, 4-H, LMAAC, WSU, WSDA and USDA are followed to the best of the Sifting Committee’s ability. Criteria for evaluation, will include but not limited to, health; medications; age; proper castration of wethers, swine and steers; weight; animal unruliness.  The Sifting Committee will approve all animals for sale at auction. Any animal called into question will not be allowed entry into the fair until the Sifting Committee is given the appropriate time and resources to evaluate the animal and records. The committee reserves the right to disqualify an exhibitor from the Fair and 4-H auction for cause. Committee members must be knowledgeable of the rules and committed to following established rules without exception or preferential treatment of exhibitors.

The Sifting Committee will provide a Sifting Checklist for each species for entrance into the Livestock Market Animal Auction for each species including:

  • Intent to Sell form – submit at early weigh-in or mail to WSU County Extension office, post-marked before June 1st
  • Livestock Market Animal Auction Committee Memorandum– submit at early weigh-in or mail to WSU County Extension office, post-marked before June 1st
  • Producer Affidavit and Quality Assurance Form (C1055E “pork”, C1054E “beef”, C1052E “lamb” C1051E “goat”) – turned in at final weigh-in Tuesday before fair 2pm to Auction Chairperson
  • Official Sifting Committee Weight– collected by sifting committee at final weigh-in, Tuesday before fair 3pm to Auction Chairperson

Each seller must have a completed Sifting Checklist signed by the Livestock Superintendent (Poultry Superintendent and/or Rabbit & Cavy Superintendent for small animal) and Auction Chairman. The completed and signed Sifting Checklist will act as certification that the animal meets the Market Class Eligibility and will proceed to judging at the fair.

Livestock Market Animal Auction Committee has made every effort to make rules and regulations definite and clear. All exhibitors, parents/guardians and club leaders are responsible for the content included in the current year Fair Premium Book and the content of this document.  The committee reserves the right to disqualify an exhibitor from the Fair and auction for cause. Questions about any of the rules or guidelines should first be directed to the to the LMAAC Chairperson(s). If an exhibitor, parent, or other volunteer has a grievance at the San Juan County Fair, they must follow the 4-H Resolution Procedures as outlined in the Fair Premium Book.

Eligibility for Auction:

  1. Only market stock in official 4-H projects is eligible. Each exhibitor must be enrolled in 4-H and be actively caring for the animal(s) exhibited as a 4-H project. 4-H members must be enrolled as a member of San Juan County 4-H. Each 4-H member must follow the rules and regulations of 4-H, the San Juan County Fair and the San Juan County Livestock Market Animal Auction Committee. LMAAC reserves the right to review all actions and behavior of exhibitors and to disqualify the exhibitor from the auction sale for cause including a violation of General Fair or 4-H rules.
  2. To be eligible for the auction sale, a certificate of INTENT TO SELL must be completed to be eligible for the sale. Forms must be completed at the EARLY WEIGH-IN DAY for beef, lamb, swine, and meat goats.  If the exhibitor is granted an exception to attend the mandatory weigh-in from the LMAAC Chairman, all forms must be mailed, faxed or emailed to the WSU Extension office on or before the appropriate due date for each project. Poultry, eggs and rabbit intent to sell forms are due on the July enrollment date. INTENT TO SELL forms must be mailed, faxed or emailed to the WSU Extension office on or before the appropriate due date for each project. Copies of “Intent to Sell” certificates are available from the San Juan County Extension office, the San County Fair office, and animal project leaders, or SJC 4-H Extension website.
  3. A Livestock Animal Auction Committee MEMORANDUM OF UNDERSTANDING must be turned in with the INTENT TO SELL.  4-H exhibitor, parent or guardian and 4-H club leader must sign this form. The intent of the Memorandum is informational and outlines the criteria (Sifting Checklist) used by the sifting committee to approve an animal for sale at auction.
  4. Exhibitors must turn in the following completed forms specific to the species offered for auction to the LMAAC Chairperson(s) on the Tuesday of fair at final weigh-in:
  5. Producer Affidavit
    1. Producer Affidavit and Quality Assurance Form (C105_E)
  6. All health records required to be maintained by 4-H exhibitor for the duration of the project ownership.
  7. The Fair Veterinarian (Hired by San Juan County Fair) will inspect all classes of livestock and poultry (including horses, pet animals, pigeons, ducks, geese and turkeys), before they are unloaded, for infection or contagious diseases and ectoparasites. Exhibitors should be aware that ringworm, warts, pinkeye, strangles, contagious eczema, scabies, lice, mites, ticks, foot rot and fleas fall into this category.  Decisions of the Veterinarian are final.
  8. The Fair Veterinarian will be on the fair grounds at specified days and times. Check with the department superintendent.
  9. Showing Horned Animals: Refer to 4-H State Program Policy EM0758E.
    1. All Market steers must be polled or dehorned; healed or re-growth must not extend more than two inches from the hairline.  Horned breeding animals must have the horn tips covered as a safety precaution.
    2. Horned, non-dairy goats or sheep may be exhibited in 4-H showmanship classes where animals are not exchanged between youth in the show ring. For a horned animal to be exhibited it must have its horn tips covered. If the sheep or non-dairy goat has scurs (horn re-growth), these scurs cannot exceed 1” in length without the horn tips being covered. Non-dairy horned goats and sheep may be shown in market and breeding classes but they must have horn tips covered as a safety precaution. A county may implement a more restrictive policy but not a less restrictive policy regarding the exhibition of horned sheep and goats.
    3. No dairy animals with horns are permitted except in the Junior Heifer Calf class. The definition of horns includes “scurs,” “nubbing,” or “stubs” that extend more than one inch beyond the skin.
    4. No horned dairy goat animals are allowed.
  10. 4-H exhibitors will compete separately in the market classes in their species. The judge will designate one (1) Grand Champion and one (1) Reserve Champion for each species for 4-H respectively followed by the placing of each blue ribbon and red ribbon animal in each class in each species for 4-H respectively. The LMAAC shall determine the sale order of all other animals in each species. All decisions and placing by the judge and the committee are final.
  11. All 4-H Livestock Market Animal Auction animals must meet the ownership date requirement. Date of ownership in as follows: Market Beef –March 1st. Swine, lambs and meat goats –June 1st.  Poultry and rabbit ownership dates are 45 days before fair.
  12. All sheep and goats entered in the San Juan County 4-H Market Livestock Animal Auction at the San Juan County Fair shall be identified as per the USDA-APHIS Scrapie Mandatory Identification Program.
  13. No cryptorchid male animals for market beef, swine, lamb or goat are allowed at auction.
  14. 4-H members are to educate themselves on the Quality Assurance program for market beef, swine, lamb, meat goat, Pullet, laying hen, duck and rabbit projects.  Club leaders will provide materials to their members or can be acquired from the WSU Extension Office.
  15. Market Class Standards including minimum required weight and maximum weight for auction pricing:
  • MARKET BEEF: 950 lbs. minimum with no maximum. Market Beef may be heifers or steers.  Desirable age of steers is less than 24 months.
  • Alternative Beef Breeds: 700 lbs. minimum and 1000 lbs. maximum. Defined as Dexter or Lowline Angus or other recognized small alternative beef animal. It must be no younger than 18 months and no older than 30 months.
  • MARKET LAMBS: 85 lbs. minimum and 160 lbs. maximum.  Market lambs may be ewes or wethers born on or after December 1st of the year prior to fair exhibit year. No permanent teeth may be present.  To qualify for the sale and all lamb must be slick shorn 7 days prior to final weigh in or wool must be less than ¼”.
  • MARKET SWINE: 200 lbs. minimum and 300 lbs. maximum.  Market hogs may be gilts or barrows born on or after January 1st of the current fair exhibit year.
  • MEAT GOATS: 70 lbs. minimum and 120 lbs. maximum.  Meat goats may be wethers or does born on or after December 1 of prior fair year. A meat goat will be defined to be at least 50% of the following meat breeds: Boer, Genemaster, Kiko, Kinder, Mytonic, Savanna, Spanish, Tennessee Meat Goat, Texmaster, Rangeland, Kalahari, Black Bengal and Verta. No permanent teeth may be present.  Goats will be graded on weight, muscle tone, and overall condition.
  • CHICKENS: 3 lbs. minimum with no maximum and must not be over 9 weeks of age. Sold as a Trio of broilers of the same breed.
  • RABBITS: 3 lbs. minimum and 5.5 lbs. maximum. Market rabbits must not be over 10 weeks of age.  Sold as a trio or fryers of the same meat breed
  • PHEASANTS: 1 lb. minimum and 3 lbs. maximum.  and must not be over 18 weeks of age.  Sold as a trio or broilers of the same meat breed
  • TURKEY: 14 lb. minimum and 30 lbs. maximum and must not be over 24 weeks of age. Sold as a single turkey.
  • PULLET Production Layers: no minimum weight sold by lot. Must be between 4 and 7 months of age. Sold as trio of same breed large fowl (duck or chicken) known for its high egg production.
  • Alternative Market Animal Project: In an effort to encourage alternative animal projects, please submit a written proposal of appropriate eligibility requirements to the LMAAC prior to project commencement for consent/approval (examples could be: Quail, Squab, Heritage Breed Turkey, Ostrich etc.)

Auction Entry Regulations:

  1. Only animals receiving a Grand Blue, Reserve Blue, Blue or Red Danish are eligible for sale at auction. White ribbon animals will not be allowed in the auction and may be sold by private treaty.
  2. An exhibitor may enter only one animal in the auction and, in addition, they may enter one dozen eggs. (Example: Exhibitor A enters a swine and a dozen eggs for auction and Exhibitor B enters a trio of pullets and a dozen eggs)
  3. Exhibitors may not withdraw their exhibits from the fair or auction after the final weigh- in on the Tuesday before Fair.
  4. Exhibitors and/or others may not buy animals for return to the seller. An exhibitor cannot show auctioned animals at other fairs and/or sales.
  5. No Animal will be sold without all of the required forms including Intent to Sell and signed Memorandum of Understanding.
  6. Sellers of market beef at the final weigh-in must complete and hand in a hauling slip and bill of sale.  Seller is required to be present at brand inspection by Washington State Brand Inspector.

Auction Tags:

Large animals must be tagged, banded, or tattooed prior to the fair. Tags will be available at the Spring weigh-in and Livestock Market Animal Auction Committee welcoming and information meeting. Large animals should be tagged before final weigh-in or during weigh-in.

Weigh-in:

  1. Mandatory Early weigh-in will be held prior to June 15th of the given year.  All beef, swine, lamb and meat goats are required to be weighed and tagged.
  2. Sellers must be present at the early and final weigh-in to bring their animals to the scales. NO PROXIES ALLOWED WITHOUT PRIOR LMAAC CHAIRPERSON APPROVAL IN WRITING. EARLY WEIGH IN IS MANDATORY UNLESS PRIOR APPROVAL BY LMAAC CHAIRPERSON IN WRITING.
  3. Final weigh-in will be Tuesday prior to the start of the fair. Order of species will rotate from year to year, determined by the LMAAC. Market livestock, poultry and rabbit that do not meet minimum weights for sale at the Market Auction will be automatically entered into a feeder class listed under each department.
  4. No animal will be weighed at the final weigh-in without a completed Market Health Record.
  5. At the final weigh-in, sellers of market beef must complete and hand in a hauling slip and bill of sale to the LMAAC Chairperson.  Seller is required to be present at brand inspection by Washington State Brand Inspector.
  6. Scales used to weigh the animals will be inspected each year and accepted by the State of Washington.

Auction Regulations:

  1. All market livestock; beef, swine, lamb, meat goat, poultry and rabbit entries must be properly finished at the time of sale. Livestock, poultry and rabbit entries judged unsuitable by the Sifting Committee or exhibitors that do not follow stated LMAAC rules for market will not be sold at the auction.
  2. The LMAAC together with the judge shall determine the sale order of all auction animals in each type class. Large market animals, small market animals and eggs of 4-H exhibitors will sell together. The order of the sale of all market animals and eggs start with the Reserve Champions of all the species followed by the Grand Champions, then the Blue Ribbons (in order of placing by the judge) and lastly, the Red Ribbons (in the order of placing by the judge).
    1. All sale lots will include large animal, small animal and eggs. The auction order will be as follows:

1.Reserve Champions Market Class- Large animal, small animal then eggs

    1. Grand Champion Market Class – Large Animal, small animal then eggs
    2. High Blue Market Class – Large animal, small animal then eggs
    3. 2nd Blue Market Class – Large animal, small animal then eggs
    4. 3rd Blue Market Class – Large animal, small animal then eggs
    5. All Remaining Blue Market Class – Large animal, small animal then eggs
    6. High Red Market Class – Large animal, small animal then eggs
    7. 2nd Red Market Class – Large animal, small animal then eggs
    8. 3rd Red Market Class – Large animal, small animal then eggs
    9. All Remaining Red Market Class – Large animal, small animal then eggs
  1. Sellers must be present to bring their animal(s) into the auction ring or it will not be sold. NO PROXIES ALLOWED.  An exemption may be made for high school seniors leaving for college during the dates of the auction. A letter must be mailed to LMAAC Chairperson(s) prior to August 1st for APPROVAL of the LMAAC.
  2. All weighed animals will be sold by the pound.  Poultry, rabbits and eggs will be by lot.
  3. All animals that weigh more than the maximum set by the Market Class Standards (see above) will be sold for the maximum weight of the market class and not the actual animal weight. Exception for market beef that has no maximum weight and will be sold by actual weight.
  4. This is a terminal auction for all animals sold at San Juan County 4-H Livestock Market Animal Auction.  If a buyer does not want the animal to be terminated, the buyer must request an exception in writing from the LMAAC Chairperson by 5pm the day of the auction and sale for approval. Exception for pullets (laying hens and ducks). All sales are final.
  5. USDA requirements for withdrawal of feed additives and medications shall be followed. If the animal is condemned in the slaughter process for violation of these USDA requirements, it is the seller’s responsibility to absorb the loss.

Auction Sale Payments to Seller:

  1. A fee of .04% of the gross sale will be deducted from each animal. The fee will include the Washington State Brand Inspector fee and check off fee for all beef, hog and lamb.
  2. Proceeds of the sale will be distributed to exhibitors or their assignors after payment has been received from the buyer. No payments will be made to the sellers/exhibitor until the treasurer has collected all proceeds of the sale.
  3. All sales not paid in full at time of sale will be assessed a 10% buyer’s premium unless pre-approved by LMAAC treasurer prior to start of auction.  Cash, check and credit cards will be accepted as form of payment.

Seller’s Responsibilities:

  1. Each exhibitor/seller assumes the responsibility for securing at least three (3) potential buyers/bidders for each animal to be sold.
  2. Exhibitors/sellers of market steers must provide buyers with rope halters, which may or may not be returned to the exhibitor. This halter must be left on the steer in the barn.
  3. Rabbit, Poultry, Pullet and egg sellers must contact buyer at time of sale or later to arrange delivery of live or processed animals or eggs. The seller must be prepared to slaughter, process and wrap rabbit or poultry, at the request of the buyer.
  4. ALL EXHIBITORS/SELLERS ARE REQUIRED TO CARE FOR THEIR MARKET ANIMAL UNTIL THE ANIMAL LEAVES THE FAIRGROUNDS OR UNTIL LIVESTOCK RELEASE TIME ON SUNDAY.
  5. Each Seller is responsible to recognize and appreciate the buyer by writing a letter expressing his/her appreciation to the buyer for participating in the auction and purchase of his/her animal. Club leaders must witness and notify LMAAC Treasurer that the seller has written a thank you to the buyer(s).
  6. Exception: poultry, rabbits and dozen eggs will deliver poultry or rabbits to buyer alive or arrangements will be made to clean and dress poultry or rabbits. Seller will make arrangements for delivery of a fresh dozen eggs to buyer.

Livestock Market Animal Auction Responsibilities:

  1. The LMAAC will be responsible to provide each buyer with written cutting and wrapping choices for processing of purchased animals.

Buyer’s Responsibilities:

  1. Anyone wanting to purchase any of the market animals may do so by oral bid or proxy.
  2. All sales are final.
  3. This is a terminal auction for all animals sold at San Juan County 4-H Livestock Market Animal Auction. If a buyer does not want the animal to be terminated, the buyer must request an exception in writing from the LMAAC Chairperson by 5pm the day of the auction and sale for approval. Note exception for pullet and egg purchases under seller’s responsibilities 6.
  4. All animals sold at auction will go to a designated USDA approved slaughter facility. When a buyer requests the animal be processed for his own use, he/she takes possession of the processed carcass at the packinghouse. The cost of slaughter, processing and wrapping is the buyer’s responsibility. If a buyer does not want the animal to be slaughtered, the buyer must request an exception from the LMAAC. Chairperson for approval. Exception for pullets (laying hens and ducks).
  5. Buyers may indicate at the time of purchase that they wish to “turn back” the purchased animal. The turned back animal will then be resold automatically at the Turn Back Auction at the end of the livestock auction. In this case, the buyer pays the full bid amount for the animal. The turn back buyer pays the Turn Back Auction bid amount for the animal. In the event that the Turn Back Auction bid price is higher that the “Auction” price, the seller will receive the greater of the two bid amounts.
  6. Proceeds from the Turn Back Auction and any late payment fees will be deposited in the 4-H LMAAC Fund and used to support the cost of auction, hauling, slaughter, delivery, SJC 4-H member scholarships, market animal showmanship grooming equipment & supplies, youth recognition & awards, barn tools, auction supplies & equipment, market animal auction educational materials, stalls/panels equipment, advertising & marketing and auction promotion and any other uses approved by the LMAAC.
  7. All buyers should pre-register and receive a bidding number prior to auction.

 

4-H STILL LIFE SILENT AUCTION

Date:  Saturday of the Fair from 11:00 AM – 6:00 PM

Auction Registration: Thursday through 6pm Friday of Fair week

Location: Marie Boe Building 

Rules, eligibility and sale conditions:

  1.  Deadline for silent auction registration: 6:00 PM on Friday of the Fair week in the Marie Boe Building.4-H exhibitors must fully  complete the registration form clearly listing the item to be auctioned and the computerized number of the auctioned item. Minimum bid and bid increments.
  2.   4-H exhibitors may enter a maximum of 3 items. These items may be from Departments 10 through 28 and must have received a blue or red ribbon.
  3. Food items (except food preservation items) offered for auction must be baked, such as breads, cakes, cookies, brownies, or fruit pies.  You may not sell creamed items (including creamed pies and cheesecakes) or any other food item requiring refrigeration. Disposable containers must be used on all food items auctioned, as the containers will not be returned to you.  All food items must be covered.  All baked items and fresh floral arrangements are baked fresh to be delivered subsequent to the auction. It’s the 4-H’er’s responsibility to arrange a delivery date with the buyer either at Fair or within a two week period after fair by a phone call or email. 
  4. A post auction packet will be sent to the 4-H’er with the proceeds, stamped addressed thank you cards, samples of thank you cards. It is the 4-H participants job to get these thank you notes out within a week of receiving. 4-H Coordinator in collaboration with Leader Council Treasurer will do random check-ins with buyers to ensure thank you notes and goods purchased where received in a timely manner.
  5.   All items to be auctioned need to be in the Marie Boe 4-H Building by Fair entry day, see schedule for deadlines.
  6.   Items to be auctioned must be accompanied by the 3×5 card provided at the time of registration.  It must be completely and legibly  filled out with the name of 4-H’er, a description of the item, and if a baked good, the quantity to be auctioned: three-dozen oatmeal apple cookies, for example. Also complete the section on why you entered the item and why a person should buy it.
  7.   4-H members are not required to be present during the silent auction, but their presence is encouraged to enhance the proceedings. If you choose to be present, appropriate 4-H attire is required. (see 4-H dress code in general rules)
  8.   Participating 4-H’ers must show proof to the club leader that thank-you notes have been written and sent to the buyer before sale checks are sent out. The club leader will notify the Leaders Council treasurer. 
  9.   Still Life Clubs may auction off one club project as a club fundraiser.  The club project can include multiple items; a cake a month for six months or a baby’s sleeping ensemble, for example.  The auctioned item must be related to the club’s department project(s).
  10. 100% of the proceeds will go to the participating 4-H’er or club..
  11. All participants are encouraged to secure their own buyers by inviting friends, relatives and community businessmen to participate at the silent auction.
  12. The 4-H Still Life Auction committee is not responsible for lost or damaged items.
  13. The 4-H Leaders Council Still Life Committee reserves the right to accept or reject items submitted for auction and interpret the rules above.