JUNIOR LIVESTOCK SALE, FRIDAY AUGUST 20th, 6:00 PM
What does the Southwest Washington Junior Livestock Sale offer 4-H and FFA youth? An opportunity to select, raise, train, market, and sell an animal of their choice out of nine different species. Some kids have more than a two year investment experience through this program starting with breeding a cow that they or their family own, then waiting nine months for the calf to be born, and yet another 14-18 months of training, feeding and caring for their project.
For those with smaller spaces there are also rabbit and several poultry projects to choose from. The turkey project is becoming more popular with about five months of time from hatch until the sale in August. Other animals that youth can choose to raise are swine, lambs, goats, ducks, geese, and fryer chickens. Along with daily feeding, pen cleaning, general care, and training for the show youth must also come up with a marketing strategy for themselves and their animal.
This may include writing a letter with photos to previous buyers, visiting businesses, shaking hands, giving short interviews with potential new buyers, and coming up with other marketing strategies. Most youth use the money they make from the sale of their animal for the purchase of the next year’s project, for school clothes, college savings, saving for a vehicle, or to purchase a laptop or books for college.
Contact the Jr Livestock Sale: SWjuniorlivestock@outlook.com
