COUNTY FAIR — Animals centerpiece of Clallam County Fair for many; livestock auction set Saturday

Calawah Country 4-H Club member Madison Murphy

Calawah Country 4-H Club member Madison Murphy

NOTE: “Today” and “tonight” refer to Friday, Aug. 15.

PORT ANGELES — For 65 agriculturally minded youths, the Clallam County Fair is all about the animals they raised as members of 4-H and FFA.

The centerpiece of the fair for children 9 to 18 years old — who have put blood, sweat and tears into raising cattle, hogs, goats, sheep, turkeys, rabbits and chickens — is Saturday’s Clallam County Junior Livestock Auction, said Jaymie VanGorden, a member of the auction committee.

Animal showing began Thursday and continues today, during which hundreds of farm animals are judged for their quality and the children for their showmanship in presenting the animals they have raised.

ADVERTISEMENT
0 seconds of 0 secondsVolume 0%
Press shift question mark to access a list of keyboard shortcuts
00:00
00:00
00:00
 

At 1 p.m. Saturday at the swine arena, the animals will be sold to the highest bidder.

The money will repay the cost of raising the animal and, in many cases, becomes the basis for a college fund for many students, VanGorden said.

“They learn to go through rigorous inspection, quality assurance. They jump through a lot of hoops,” she said.

For instance, Colby Beckstrom, 17, who will be a Port Angeles High School senior this fall, plans to use the money from the sale of his three cattle, six hogs, 60 chickens and several turkeys to attend Peninsula College.

The animals are hand-raised personally by each member of 4-H or FFA — once known as Future Farmers of America — and have the best of living conditions, Colby said.

Every animal in the sale is “red ribbon or higher,” which guarantees high-quality meat, he said.

However, that also means the auction is often filled with tears in addition to the satisfaction of a job well done.

Growing program

VanGorden said the program has grown this year, as many new young members have joined and have just finished raising their first animals.

“There are 15 more kids this year,” she said.

Colby said it takes some time to learn how to raise an animal and then let it go.

“A lot of our first-timers have a hard time,” he said.

“These kids spend every day out with them. You have to work with them a lot, so they are heartbroken,” he added.

All sales are terminal; they are sent to the Farmer George meat shop in Port Orchard for custom butchering after the sale.

Prices for butchering are not included in the auction price and vary according to the animal purchased and buyers’ choices of butchering.

Bidders include not only local businesses and individuals who show up every year to help support 4-H and FFA but also families who are looking for a good price for high-quality meat, VanGorden said.

Donations without a purchase also can be made to any individual member, to all of those who raised a certain type of animal or to be shared by all participants.

Multiple families can split the cost of a steer or hog if a whole animal is too much to store, she said.

In recent years, average live weight prices have been $3.01 a pound for steers, $3.30 for lambs or $3.30 for hogs.

Chickens and rabbits are sold in pens of three, while the larger animals are sold individually.

To register today as a bidder for the auction, phone VanGorden at 360-461-9681.

Registration also will be taken between 11:30 a.m. and noon Saturday at the swine arena.

________

Reporter Arwyn Rice can be reached at 360-452-2345, ext. 5070, or at arwyn.rice@peninsuladailynews.com.

More in News

Emily Matthiessen/Olympic Peninsula News Group
Stew Cockburn stands in the spring annual section prior to it being for early spring gardeners.
New Dungeness Nursery planted in landscaping industry

Family and their employees work 2-acre location in Sequim

Partnership discussion may violate state law

OMC in Phase 2 of exploratory process

Members of the public take a guided tour at Port Townsend High School on Wednesday. (Elijah Sussman/Peninsula Daily News)
Port Townsend school district may seek $90M bond

Tour highlights high school’s infrastructure needs

A pair of wind surfers take off from the breakwater at Port Townsend Marina in an apparent race across the bay on Tuesday. (Steve Mullensky/for Peninsula Daily News)
Catching the wind

A pair of wind surfers take off from the breakwater at Port… Continue reading

Clallam County Economic Development Council Director of Operations Lorie Fazio, left, and Executive Director Colleen McAleer stand with Michael Cade, executive director of Thurston EDC who presented the WEDA’s 2025 Innovation in Economic Development award. The EDC received the award last month in recognition of its Clallam Forest Product Innovation Program.
Clallam EDC wins state innovation award

Forest innovation program intended to revitalize industry

Port Townsend library to show Willa Cather documentary

Free novels, dramatic reading Thursday at 5:30

Jefferson sets short-term rental rules

County establishes 4 percent cap, one rental per operator

When former deputy and pilot John L. Strachan told his wife Jennie that his final wish was for his ashes to be sent into space, she wondered if he was kidding. After all, could such a thing even be done? Turns out, it can — and Jennie is making it happen. (Jennie Strachan)
When former deputy and pilot John L. Strachan told his wife Jennie that his final wish was for his ashes to be sent into space, she wondered if he was kidding. After all, could such a thing even be done? Turns out, it can — and Jennie is making it happen. (Jennie Strachan)
Former deputy’s ashes to be sent into space

Widow of John Strachan to fulfill his dream

Port OKs Citizen Air lease

Company purchasing Rite Bros. Aviation

Rebates offered for e-bikes through April 23

The state Department of Transportation will accept applications for e-bike… Continue reading

Jefferson County Public Health names heroes

Jefferson County Public Health has announced its 2025 Public… Continue reading

Man transported to hospital after log truck goes into ditch

A log truck driver was transported to Forks Community Hospital… Continue reading