Changes to livestock auction

Wrapping up the annual excitement of Fair Week is the Junior Livestock Auction on Friday, Aug. 2 at 7 p.m.

Joe Martinez explained there will be a Buy Back program for those buyers who don’t necessarily want to keep the animals. For instance, someone might not like lamb but still wants to participate in the auction and support the youth. In a partnership with Wyoming Legacy Meats, the company as agreed to buy back the animals from successful bidders, at market price.

Those who choose not to use the Buy Back program are free to utilize other area processors for their meat.

Another change to the auction will be assigned bidder numbers. Martinez said the numbers will be given to individual bidders and businesses alike, and a list will be kept. This will make it easier for the auctioneers to identify bidders, and easier identification of successful bidders.

Pre-registration forms for bidder numbers have been sent out, though a registration table will be set up in the multipurpose building prior to and during the auction.

Joe Martinez, a fair board member and head of the fair committee, explained the committee helps in updating and making any changes to rules based on the comments heard. This incudes clarifications and deletions on any pertinent rules. The changes are brought before the fair board, gone through and altered if necessary, but it is the fair board that ultimately approves them.

The fair committee, Martinez added, has also been working with the livestock auction to partner with Wyoming Legacy Meats and encourage more buyers to come in. The main goal, he said, is to make it as positive an experience as they can for the youth.

Another change is the addition of animal/barn superintendents. Martinez explained board members are partnered with committee members to be superintendents. Those superintendents will enforce the rules, and answer any questions entrants or parents might have.

Fair committee members include: Joe Martinez, Sadie Eckley, Dan Webber, Cody Stewart, Joey Johnson, Lindsey Bowman and Britton VanHeule.

Fair superintendents are: Horse - Billie Jo Norsworthy and Dan Webber; Beef - Weston Jones, Lindsey Bowman and Cody Stewart; Sheep - Joe Martinez and Sadie Eckley; Swine - Dawn Peil and Joey Johnson; and Small Animal - Cody Stewart