The Redwood Empire Fair CEO Jennifer Seward reported to the UDJ that the annual Junior Livestock Auction has continued its tradition of being one of the most successful auctions in the State of California. She is, as always, impressed with the support from all of the buyers who purchased livestock at the fair.
“We are very thankful for our businesses and individuals that show up and purchase animals at the Fair, year after year. The Redwood Empire Fair exhibitors have an amazing team that supports them through the process of showing and selling at the Fair. We are fortunate to have the Redwood Empire Fair Junior Livestock Auction Committee, Savings Bank of Mendocino County staff, volunteers, parents, employees, and Board Members to make sure everything runs smoothly,” Seward notes. “This year’s auctioneers- Rex Williams, Drew McElfresh and Joe Stefenoni did an outstanding job.” Matthew Delbar and 4th District Supervisor Madeline Cline provided announcing services for the auction.
The auction broke the previous year’s record, bringing in $1,302,230.50, toppling last year’s record-breaking haul by an impressive $59,277.50. Additionally, the auction saw a tie in the largest number of entrants, or “lots,” tying last year’s number of 294 entrants. Add-on donations of $42,349.00 to exhibitors was collected. “Add-ons are a way for community members to support the individual participants in the auction without purchasing an animal,” says Seward.
The per-pound or per-lot species averages are as follows: There were 23 lots of 4H Market Beef, with an average per-pound price of $8.54. FFA Market Beef garnered 19 lots with a $9.27 per-pound average. There were 17 4H Market Goat lots, with a per-pound average of $22.15, and 8 FFA lots averaging $24.31. There were 32 4H Market Sheep lots, averaging $18.11 per pound, and 25 FFA Market Sheep lots averaging $17.74 per pound. There were 25 Rabbit Meat Pens, with an average of $1495.00 per pen.
Auction Ring Man Lorne Chase communicating with a bidder during the heat of the Junior Livestock Auction.This year, the majority of exhibitors chose to raise swine. There were 103 4H lots, averaging $15.96 per pound, and 41 FFA lots, averaging $15.66 per pound.
“Livestock projects require hard work and dedication. Once again, 4H, FFA and Independent exhibitors demonstrated they have the skills and talent to produce superior livestock, versus what can be purchased at the grocery store,” says Seward.
An auction couldn’t be an auction without Ring Men, who are the conduit between the buyers and the auctioneers. When there’s a full house in attendance, it takes a team of seasoned Ring Men to relay the bids to the auctioneers. “This year’s Ring Men included Chuck Persico, Mike Lucchetti, Mark Lucchetti, Lorne Chase, Mark Silva and Brady Satterwhite, who all did an exceptional job,” says Seward.
Lorne Chase had two children who were involved with the fair from a young age.
“My kids were different ages, so they raised different animals. Being involved with the Junior Livestock program was a wonderful way to meet people,” says Chase. “I’m still great friends with many of the folks I met years ago.”
Like all parents of junior “aggies,” Chase found himself at the fair from beginning to end.
“I was down here all the time, from load-in to load-out. I used to help out with the paint branding, which is where you paint numbers on the animals on the Friday before the auction. We do this so we know who each animal is and who is going where,” he smiles.
“When the kids were done raising animals, I got asked to be a Ring Man.” Chase notes that it’s a skill that takes some time to develop, and requires a keen sense of attention and spatial awareness.
The Ring Men stand in a loose line at the front of the auction arena, where they have a clear view of all potential bidders. Each Ring Man has a specific section of the audience they are responsible for. “You never try to watch someone else’s bids. You have to concentrate on your area, or we could be sending back bids on the same person, which is known as cross-firing. You definitely don’t want to have that happen,” he smiles. “Over the years, we’ve gotten to know each other pretty well.”
Juan Martinez with the Redwood Valley-Calpella 4H raised a Market Beet purchased by Taco Bell.The Livestock Auction truly takes a community of volunteers to run smoothly year after year. Kayla Moore was raised in Potter Valley. She was in both FFA and 4H and raised cattle. “I ended up going to college for Animal Science, and during the summers, I’d come back to work at the Fair. I worked in the front office, and with the livestock programs both here and at the Sonoma County Fair,” says Moore. Today, she’s an Ag Instructors at Potter Valley High School, and had 9 students who brought animals to the auction.
“The students brought beef, swine, sheep and goats. Even though they’d all shown before, I was here to help them make sure they were prepared for showing and for Auction Day.” She notes that the students had lots of community support and were very happy with the auction results.
Amber Grable grew up in Willits, and like Moore, grew up in 4H and FFA, raising rabbits, goats and even dogs. She majored in Animal Science and Ag Business, returning from Chico to Mendocino County, first as a Veterinary Technician, and then becoming an Ag Instructor at Round Valley High School, teaching a variety of courses including Agricultural Biology, Chemistry, Animal Science, Veterinary Science and more. Like every year, an impressive number of young people from Round Valley and Long Valley make the long journey with their animals to spend the weekend at the auction and the Fair.
“We are very lucky to the have the community support we have,” says Grable. “Our Round Valley businesses continue to be so supportive- Keith’s IGA, M&M Feed, Cold Creek Compost, Hatchett Mountain Construction and the Round Valley Tribe. We have very competitive kids,” she smiles. “They’ve learned how to hide it, but they’re here to win.”
Corey Bush, the Chairperson of the Mendocino County Junior Livestock Auction Committee has spent his life around animals. “I started with 4H when I was 12 years old, raising pigs. I loved the program so much that when I was old enough, I became the Swine Leader for Redwood Valley,” he explains. Bush maintained that role for 8 years, and then transitioned to the Chairmanship, where he feels he can best use his time to reach more kids.
“My job starts again first thing this week,” says Bush, whose main function is the overall guidance and coordination for everything involved with the auction. “This is the first year that I wasn’t with the kids in the Swine Barn all weekend, so it’s been quite a change.” He notes that raising animals is an emotional, complex event. “It’s important that I look at every kid as my own. They work so hard, and they learn so much. There is something truly magical about this process.”
Bush encourages any family interested in introducing their child to 4H or FFA to contact their local program. “No matter what project your child gets involved with, it’s the programs itself that are excellent. I also wanted to note that terminal auctions- which result in the harvesting of animals- are not the only options for kids. We have a wonderful breeding show at the Fair.”
Bush has the responsibility of visiting many of the auction exhibitors. “I visit them in June to try and make sure the animals are going to make weight. I’m so impressed at how clean the pens are, and how much time the kids spend working with their animals,” he concludes.
Natasha Ricetti started raising rabbits as a “mini” member of 4H, and from there, she went on to raise market hogs and wool bred sheep. Once in high school, she raised Nigerian Dwarf Goats.
She attended college, first in Butte County and then at Chico State, where the money she’d earned raising animals helped with college expenses. “My original plan was to become a teacher, but I ended up with the USDA Farm Service Agency as the County Executive Director.” This enabled Ricetti to stay in touch with local farmers and to help out during fair time.
“In college, I used to work as a Livestock Assistant under the Livestock Superintendent. My husband Bobby does that now,” she smiles. “He spends the week down here, and he’s better at driving the forklift.”
Ricetti praises the county community of parents, businesses, educators and friends of agriculture.
“We’re a very tight-knit community that loves to support the kids. We have a generous buyer community, and every year there are always new buyers that we welcome into the fold.”
The exhibitors at the Redwood Empire Fair receive generous per-lot prices, which aren’t representative of commercial pricing. ”The experience they receive is so much more than money,” Ricetti continues. “It’s about learning to show up, put in the work, being responsible and being part of a team,” she adds, noting that she has heard that some business owners prefer to hire young people with a 4H or FFA background because of their maturity and proven work ethic.
Claire Case works as one of the fairgrounds’ auction staff team.
“We are so proud to offer opportunities for all youth in Mendocino County who are involved in agriculture and local food production,” she notes. “It’s worth noting that all youth can participate in fair activities. There are so many kinds of skills development involved in taking on any project at the fair. It’s wonderful to see kids gain confidence, set goals and complete them, and our buyers see the hard work of all these young people. Oftentimes, the kids have initiated personal conversations with the buyers, asking for their support. Most have developed strategic reinvestment plans, which is just one of the lifelong skills they’ve acquired by raising an animal,” she concludes.
“The Junior Livestock Auction also offers an opportunity for donations to community non-profits,” says Seward. “There is the option to purchase an animal and donate it to a non-profit such as Plowshares or the Senior Center. It’s a great way of paying it forward,” Seward notes. “Many of the exhibitors breed their own animals and are already thinking about their projects for next year. It is amazing to see the youth of Mendocino County learn and grow.”
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