Linn County Youth Livestock Auction

Saturday, July 20, 2024

Starting at 12pm at the Linn County Fair

Changes for 2024 Auction

It has come to our attention that we have more market animals than ever before for the 2024 Linn County Youth Livestock Auction.  While this is a good problem to have as we see more and more youth wanting to learn about animal science projects, this also means there are more lots to sell at the annual livestock auction.  To try to keep the auction length manageable, it has been voted on by the auction committee to sell approximately 300 lots of animals. To achieve this goal there will be a portion of the bottom placing animals in each class that will be in pen lots. We will not be pen lotting any cattle. The goal of these changes is to make the event as successful as possible for the buyers and exhibitors. We feel that pen lotting is the best way to make that happen. The sale order for 2024 will be Goats, Rabbits, Beef, Chickens, Lambs, Turkeys, and Swine.


What does this mean?  Simply put, the lower portion of each market class will be placed with like animals in their species to be sold in a lot of 2 animals.  This means that a buyer is purchasing the entire lot at one time.  Of course, we are more than happy to split this between two or more buyers. The goal here is to reduce the total auction time, not force a buyer to purchase more than they intended.


Here is an example:
Lot 123a is a hog weighing 240lbs. Lot 123b is a hog weighing 265 lbs.  A bid of $8.00 per pound for a total of 505 pounds equals a total of $4,040.00.  This is the amount the buyer is responsible for minus the floor price if the animals are sold back. Lot 123a will receive $1,920 and Lot 123b will receive $2,120. This is just as it relates to the auction sale price. Add-ons are always applied to the youth specified.

Please understand our Auction Committee did not take this decision lightly. There was great consideration and lots of discussion and we feel this is the best solution to keep the auction time reasonable and still sell all eligible animals. We also realize this change will come with lots of questions and concerns as we navigate this together. We are here to support everyone involved and are happy to educate and answer questions as they come. 

Although this is short notice, we hope you will continue your support of the youth of Linn County and their projects. These kids are our future leaders in our communities and will need to grow and prosper throughout this conception year as we do as supporters, leaders, advisors and buyers.

Respectfully,
Linn County Livestock Auction Committee

Ways to support the 4-H and FFA members: 

  1. Attend in-person

  2. Proxy Bidding: If you cannot attend the auction either in-person, please contact an Auction Committee member prior to the sale. We will do our best to help you support the youth of your choosing. Advance communication is requested.

  3. Group Purchase: Purchases can be split up to four ways. If you wish to keep the animal, please designate who will be assigned for processor communication. Clear communication to the auction committee on these purchases is requested.

  4. Add-Ons: Add-ons can be done three ways

    1. Online starting Sunday, July 21 through Friday, July 26

    2. In person the day of the auction

    3. By mail postmarked no later than Friday, July 26.


Auction Guide:

All buyers are asked to park in General Parking and enter through the Main Gate.  We will have Golf Cart shuttles running from 10am to 1pm.  Wristbands are good for parking and fair admission

The Buyer Lunch and Registration will be in the Calapooia Arena where the auction will be taking place.

Registration opens at 9am, Lunch starts at 11am

What can you do with the purchased animal?

  • Custom Processing: There will be a processor for every animal that goes through the auction. This year's processor options for Beef, Swine, Sheep and Goats are: C&C Meats (Scio, OR), Willamina Meats (Willamina, OR), Mountain Stream Meats (Molalla, OR), and Mid Valley Processing (Lebanon, OR). Beef and Swine ONLY are: Farmer’s Helper (Harrisburg, OR), Ben’s Meats (Dayton, OR), and Sharp’s Meats (Hubbard, OR).  

    • If you have a pre-approved alternate processor, there will be an ‘Other’ option on the processor list.  Please notify either Donald or Stacey of your transportation arrangement before sale day

  • Turkeys, Rabbits and Chickens: If you would like to have your purchase processed, Mineral Springs does Poultry and Pacific Coast Farms does Rabbits. Whole, processed meat will be available for pickup on Monday afternoon following the auction. Please be available to meet at the fairgrounds to pick it up.

  • Resale: A buyer may resell the purchased animal to the auction’s commercial buyer for the resale price.

  • No animals may be taken home after the auction

After the gavel goes down:

  • Kids will be doing their own running at the auction.   This means that shortly after you purchase their animal, they will come out to shake your hand and have your contract to sign.  Please be on the lookout to wave them down as sometimes it is hard for them to spot you.

  • There will be multiple white copies of the same contract and invoice.   Please remember to double check the bid price, circle Resale or the Processor of your choice and sign the bottom.  If there is a phone number for processing instructions other than the one we have on file, please note it on the signed contract.

Buyer payment:

Payment can be made the evening of the auction via check or Credit Card (with a 3% processing fee). All bills will be sent out within a week of the auction.  Payments must be mailed within 30 days to the 4-H Extension Office or done online with a card when add-ons are closed.  There are never any additional fees when paying with check or cash.

Questions:

Questions are welcome and encouraged. Please help us run a smooth auction by contacting an auction committee member with any questions prior to the day of the sale.

Updated as of June 1, 2024


We greatly appreciate all the buyers’ support for our youth in Linn County.  Thank you for your time and investment.  

If at any time you need assistance, please call any of the below numbers:

Rob Damon 541-974-2918

Donald Fleckenstein 971-219-6729

Stacey Lyle 541-936-1629

Andrea Leao 503-559-1666