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JAMESTOWN – The Chautauqua County 4-H Youth Development Meat Animal Sale is back for the 57th year, with the public having an opportunity to bid on the animals to help the program.
The auction is a part of the “UnFair” events hosted by the Cornell Cooperative Extension of Chautauqua County 4-H Youth Development. The “UnFair” will be held July 21-25 at the Chautauqua County Fairgrounds, with the sale taking place on July 24 at noon in the Warren K. Brown Show Arena.
“4-H is a youth organization that serves youth ages 5 to 18,” explained Kate Ewer, the 4-H Community Educator. “These kids meet throughout the winter and learn how to care for their animals, [learn about] what’s happening in the industry, and all of that programming is led by volunteers.”
While most events at the “UnFair” won’t be open to the public, the animal auction will be open for anyone who would like to attend as the participants will have a chance to show off the animals they’ve worked so hard to raise.
“[The youth] have got to care for [the livestock]. That whole entire time, they’re monitoring their weight, they monitor the feed, and they keep very accurate records about what they feed, the costs associated with their project, regardless of the species,” furthered Ewer. “It definitely teaches responsibility and dedication to your program.”
This year, there definitely won’t be a shortage of livestock for buyers to take home.
This year’s sale will feature “57 hogs… eight market goats, 29 pairs of market chickens, about 14 lambs, and 14 steers,” according to Ewer. “The majority of these youths have been raising these animals since January.”
Sale books will be provided, and no bidder numbers will be assigned; you just need to get the attention of a spotter.
“You do more than you know by supporting the youth in this way, by purchasing their animals,” said Ewer, referencing how some of the proceeds from each animal sale go back to the Chautauqua County 4-H Youth Development Program to help future 4-H’ers raise livestock and learn about the industry.
If you can’t make it to the sale in person, you can watch it via livestream on the Chautauqua County 4-H Facebook page, where more information about the event can be found as well.
To pre-register for the auction, you can call (716) 664-9502, extension 208. To learn more about the local 4-H program, visit chautauqua.cce.cornell.edu.
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