Serving Whitman County since 1877
Serving Whitman County since 1877
Jerry Hennigar, Roger Miller, Jim Lyle and Jim Kincaid, from the left, were among junior marketers from 1960 who pooled money to buy this year's reserve 4H champion lamb from Garin Monson during the 2019 stock show.
WHITMAN COUNTY – The Palouse Empire Fair's stock sale committee will meet Monday night, June 29, to discuss options for 4H and FFA kids raising animals for a county fair that will not take place.
In a usual year, youth buy and/or raise animals to show at the fair, be analyzed by judges and go up for sale at the conclusion.
Because the 2020 fair has been canceled, the livestock committee has already committed to buying the animals at the floor price – a fluctuating base market price.
"We wouldn't make any money, the kids may lose some," said Eric Appel, committee member and longtime superintendent of the fair sheep barn. "They'd probably lose money if it was held today."
The committee would then sell the animals to meatpackers.
With this plan set as a default, other possibilities include a virtual auction and even virtual fitting and showing.
In a normal year at the fair, stock sales are based on the deemed market class of each animal.
"How do you do this when there's no (direct) comparing of the animals?" said Appel. "This is very new territory."
Since many of these animals – such as hogs and sheep – are not required to be owned by participants until 60 days before the fair, many families waited or did not buy an animal this year, pending the likely cancellation of the fair because of the coronavirus.
"Some kids, it's the summer, they'd rather go play," Appel said.
For those who are raising an animal this year, especially steers – which are often a project begun in January – the question is how to accommodate the kids and the costs put in to raising the animals.
The sale committee is funded by a three percent commission from each sale at the fair.
After Monday night, plans may take more shape for the kids and would-be entries.
"My guess is there is not near as many animals as in a normal fair," Appel said.
Garth Meyer is a former Whitman County Gazette reporter.
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