LAKEPORT — The junior livestock auction at the Lake County Fair starts 1 p.m. Saturday and is expected to offer around 230 lots of prize-winning livestock, poultry and rabbits for potential buyers from throughout Northern California.
A record sale occurred in 2011, with more than $300,000 in sales for the first time in Lake County Fair history.
“It”s a real indication that the community supports youth programs such as 4-H and the Future Farmers of America,” fair CEO Richard Persons said. He added, “Those programs teach kids about agriculture, which is Lake County”s largest economic sector, and about teamwork, sportsmanship, honor and responsibility. We”re hoping the community continues to support these programs, and we”d like to set a new record sale this year.”
Steers, lambs, hogs, meat goats, turkeys, rabbits and chickens are offered during the auction, with grand champion winners crossing the auction block at the start of the program.
Two buyers are allowed to join together for the purchase of one lot, and buyers who are unable to attend can arrange for a proxy to buy on their behalf. In recent years, the sale has been split into two sales rings that operate at the same time, making for a total sale length of around three and a half hours.
A registered buyers” luncheon occurs just before the sale at 10:30 a.m., offering a tri-tip barbecue to all registered buyers.
The junior livestock auction is sponsored by Umpqua Bank.
Regular admission prices for the Lake County Fair remain the same as last year: $10 for a regular ticket, $6 for a person older than 60 and $6 for children 6 to 11. Children younger than 6 years old are admitted free every day.
