About 175 Walworth County 4-H and FFA members will participate in the Walworth County Fair Meat Animal Sale Friday, Sept. 2.
For many, this activity will serve as the climax of a multi-faceted, yearlong beef, sheep, or swine market animal project experience.
At a minimum, this year’s project experience began several months ago and has included learning experiences, skill development, comradery, and lots of hard work – all of which members agree mixes up into their brand of “fun.”
Some members breed and raise their own market animals; others purchase market animals to feed out and show. Either way, they spend countless hours with their animals – feeding them, watering them, grooming them, managing their health, and training them in preparation for their big moments in the county fair show ring and at the sale.
Market animal project members say that there are many benefits to their participation. A recent survey revealed that 100% of respondents (34) agreed that their project work has made them more responsible, more confidant, and better problem solvers. The survey also showed:
• 97% said their project efforts have made them quicker to recover when things don’t go as planned;
• 94% percent said they have become better sportsmen and are more prepared for college because of their projects;
• 85% said they are better at record keeping than they otherwise would have been; and
• 76% expressed at least some interest in pursuing an animal science or agribusiness career because of their experiences.
When asked what life skills they are learning through their project work, members shared these top four responses (in ranked order):
1.) Work hard to accomplish your goals/give your all;
2.) Patience/a little progress each day adds up to big results;
3.) Perseverance/don’t give up; and
4.) Good care of animals leads to good results.
Members cited working with their animals and the bonds they form as two of the things they most enjoy about their project work.
“I enjoy working with my animals every day to make them look the best that they possibly can,” sajid Landon Rehberg, a Spring Prairie 4-H Club member.
“When you work with your animals enough, they respond to what you are asking them to do and are very friendly,” said Michael Strause of Sugar Creek 4-H Club.
“The thing I most enjoy about my sheep is spending time with them. It’s fun to run and play with them,” said Alaina Yates, Sugar Creek 4-H Club. “It doesn’t feel like work.”
When members were asked how their past sale participation has impacted them, four responses in varying forms were most common. They were:
1.) Being grateful for people investing in your project;
2.) Volunteering and helping others makes me feel good;
3.) It’s important to support your local community; and
4.) People are very generous.
“The support for local youth by the community is absolutely amazing to me,” said Matthew Hoekstra, Delavan-Darien FFA. “
“It is a moving experience to witness the auction and the excitement of others,” added Casey Leonard, Linn 4-H Club.
Beyond the learning that takes place during the project, it is clear that sale participation is a means to an important end for most members who are working to make and save money to offset costs related to post-secondary schooling and independent living after high school.
“All the animals I work with and raise for the project and sale will help my future,” said Wyatt Dolan, Delavan-Darien FFA. “All money I receive will go towards my college/house fund. I also feel that my writing skills and socialization will help me further in school and eventually work life.”
The 173rd Walworth County Meat Animal Sale will at 10 a.m. Friday, Sept. 2, in the Wiswell Center at the Walworth County Fairgrounds. Sale order will be beef, sheep and then swine, with the sale of Grand and Reserve Grand Champion live and carcass animals following at about 3 p.m.
Bidding is in cents per pound of live animal. Champion carcasses are also sold on a live weight basis. Buyers may send their purchases to a locker plant for custom processing or to market for resale (paying the difference between the purchase price and the market price). They may also opt to donate their purchase to the Buyers’ Appreciation Banquet held in late September or to an organization of their choice.
The Walworth County Business Association will clerk the event. Terms of sale are cash, check or credit card. All are welcome to attend and bid on the meat animals.
Because of locker plant limitations, local processing spots are limited and will be filled on a first come, first serve basis as the sale progresses.
Buyers will be notified as locker plant spots fill up. An unlimited number of spots exist for sale animals being sent to market.
Project members encourage individuals and businesses to check out this year’s sale for an opportunity to buy quality meat and support local youth.
“When you buy an animal from the Meat Animal Sale, you are supporting a local 4-H or FFA member and also the fair,” said Spring Prairie 4-H Club member Veronica Siegler.
“Sale animals have been worked with since the day they were born,” Katie Gillette, Whitewater 4-H Club added. “They’ve had the best nutrients, clean habitats, exercise, and the best hygienic care. The best part is that all of this work has been done by kids that wake up before the sun rises to feed and walk their animals. It’s the kids who are constantly working to get food on others’ tables. It’s the kids who really care.”
