More Animals Sold at Livestock Auction
By Diane Booth Conway,
Merced County Fair Communications & Marketing Director

When the auctioneer banged the gavel for the last time at the 2008 Merced County Fair’s Junior Livestock Auction, sales totaled $422,993, down $20,191 from last year. However, the number of animals sold was up from 2007.

Youngsters from around the county in 4-H and FFA, as well as independent exhibitors, watched as their market lambs, swine, beef and goats were sold at the annual auction, Saturday, July 19, during the 117th Merced County Fair. The fair was July 15-20. Rabbit meat pens were sold at a separate auction on Thursday, July 17.   

There were more market livestock sold at the fair this year. The average bid for 2008 was $3.8077 per pound, down 1% compared to $3.841 per pound in 2007. But the average seller price for the 2008 auction was $798.10, an 11% drop from the 2007 average seller price of $900.78, said Robin Hauck, the fair’s CEO.

“The sale went really well – especially considering the economic times,” said Richard Regalo, the fair's Livestock Superintendent. “I was really impressed with all the support the community provided for these kids. This is a reflection of our community and the importance of agriculture in this county.”

There were 530 animals sold at the 2008 auction compared to the 492 sold at the 2007 fair. The animals sold at both auctions were 22 beef, 309 swine, 111 lambs, 58 goats and 30 meat pens (three rabbits to a pen). There was a drop in the number of beef at the auction but there were more swine and goats and two more lambs sold this year. There were 19 more meat pens sold at the rabbit auction compared to the previous year.

Regalo isn’t sure why more animals were sold at this year’s fair, but he added, “4-H and FFA are doing a better job of promoting their programs and more students are getting involved in animal projects. It’s great because more kids are able to participate in the fair experience.”  

The weather for the six-day fair and auction was “perfect fair weather,” Regalo said, adding, “We couldn’t ask for better weather.” The days were warm – not too hot – and the evenings were breezy, which makes it easier on animals and people. “It made for a very smooth running fair from our end of it,” he said.

Although there were a lot of animals that went through the auction this year, the sale, which lasted more than eight hours, went very well, Regalo said. “The auctioneers did a really professional job. They made sure these kids got a good price for their animals, but they moved the auction along smoothly. You can’t expect buyers to stay at the auction for an extended period of time. Our students do a good job of going out and soliciting support for their projects and our community always rallies around the kids,” he said.

Regalo also gives a lot of credit for the success of the livestock events and auction to the Livestock Office staff and volunteers – parents, 4-H and FFA leaders and teachers. “They were all 4-H and FFA members themselves and they choose to work here as a way of giving back.”

The quality of the animals sold at the Junior Livestock Auction continues to be excellent, Regalo said. “The top end of our animals are very, very competitive in all species. “

Central Valley Concrete/Central Valley Trucking donated money to the Livestock Auction and the Rabbit Auction to cover the commission the exhibitors would ordinarily have to pay out of their auction sale checks to the Merced County Fair. This year's donation from CVC/CVT owners, Harold, Scott and Staci Neal, is $26,693. The commissions are typically charged to cover the cost of maintaining the livestock barns, the show rings and other showmanship and auction expenses. The percentages of commissions paid for beef is 5.5%, it's 6.5% for lambs, goats and swine and for meat pen rabbits it's 2.5%.

CVC/CVT’s generosity to the kids who sold animals at the fair is a "win-win" for everyone involved in the auction, Regalo said, "These young people get their full selling price from the auction. This is another example of the support our community provides for our kids in agriculture.”

The average per pound selling prices at the 2008 fair are as follows: The average price per pound for goats was $5.54, beef was $1.96 per pound, the average price per pound for lambs was $4.94, for swine the figure was $3.58 per pound and rabbit meat pens (3 rabbits) were sold for an average price of  $223.50.

The average seller price for market lambs was $627. The average seller price for market goats was $487, the average seller price for swine was $858 and for beef, the average seller price was $2,427.

The 2008 Merced County Fair's Grand Champion and Reserve Grand Champion Meat Pens are: Grand Champion Rabbit Meat Pen, Robert Ryland, Merced, Golden Valley FFA, $600. Reserve Champion Rabbit Meat Pen, Jeremy Witt, Merced, St. Anthony’s 4-H, $405.

The 2008 Merced County Fair’s Grand Champions are as follows: Brittney Machado, Winton, Buhach Colony FFA, Grand Champion Market Beef, 1,274 pounds, $3.50 a pound, $4,459; Grace Minton, Gustine, Gustine FFA, Grand Champion Market Lamb, 129 pounds, $9 a pound, $1,161; Montanna Oh, Atwater, McSwain 4-H, Grand Champion Market Goat, 105 pounds, $6 a pound, $630 and Ashley Oliveira, Gustine, Gustine FFA, Grand Champion Market Swine, 258 pounds, $18 per pound, $4,644.

The 2008 Merced County Fair’s Reserve Grand Champions are: Brandon Machado, Winton, McSwain 4-H, Reserve Grand Champion Market Beef, 1,246 pounds, $3.50 per pound, $4,361; Keri Court, Atwater, McSwain 4-H, Reserve Grand Champion Market Lamb, 138 pounds, $10 per pound, $1,380; Alicia Copeland, Winton, Atwater FFA, Reserve Grand Champion Market Goat, 81 pounds, $24 per pound, $1,944; Caleb Johnson, Ballico, Ballico Cressey 4-H, Reserve Grand Champion Market Swine, 265 pounds, $16 a pound, $4,240.

For information, call the fair office at 722-1507 or email to Info@MercedCountyFair.com or fax at 722-3773. Visit the 2008 Merced County Fair’s award-winning website, www.MercedCountyFair.com

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