Understanding the Fair Auction
The DFC auction is on Friday, July 25, 2025 at approx 2:45 pm in the Sheep/Swine Arena. Calves will be auctioned at their weigh in weight. Calves exceeding the heaviest calf weight from group A, will be sold at weight of Group A calf.
Calves may be sold in the auction on Friday. Only calves that are shown at the fair and are properly vaccinated, castrated, and dehorned will be eligible to be sold. 4-Hers do have the option of taking their calf home and not selling.
No calf may be taken home once it has been checked in without the consent of a 4-H leader. There will be a sign out sheet in the Dairy Feeder Calf Office where you will need to sign out your calf.
You are allowed to line up your own buyer, or let the sale go as it may... perhaps to a local business or local individual.
Some families also create a buyers group of combined donations, or have "add ons", (additional donations added on top of the total sale price).
Local individuals may purchase the calf and take it home to grow for meat, or a 2nd year project.
Local businesses often bid on animals to support the 4Hers, they normally will take "support price" and donate the calf.
What does that mean?? Each year we have a "support buyer". They pay "support price" on each calf that is "donated back to the club". This truck load of calves then goes to the support buyers feedlot.
For example: if the support price is $2.50 per pound
and the Local Business bids $3.50 per pound
the local business bidder/buyer only pays $1.00 per pound
the support buyer pays $2.50 per pound
and the 4Her gets the full $3.50 per pound on their sale
and the calf goes on the support truck.
You do not have to have a buyer lined up to let your calf go thru auction. Many local businesses attend our auction as a way to give back to the community.
*Grooming Rule -- Second Violation: The club member would be removed from the show, and not allowed to sell calf at auction.
Calves may be sold in the auction on Friday. Only calves that are shown at the fair and are properly vaccinated, castrated, and dehorned will be eligible to be sold. 4-Hers do have the option of taking their calf home and not selling.
No calf may be taken home once it has been checked in without the consent of a 4-H leader. There will be a sign out sheet in the Dairy Feeder Calf Office where you will need to sign out your calf.
You are allowed to line up your own buyer, or let the sale go as it may... perhaps to a local business or local individual.
Some families also create a buyers group of combined donations, or have "add ons", (additional donations added on top of the total sale price).
Local individuals may purchase the calf and take it home to grow for meat, or a 2nd year project.
Local businesses often bid on animals to support the 4Hers, they normally will take "support price" and donate the calf.
What does that mean?? Each year we have a "support buyer". They pay "support price" on each calf that is "donated back to the club". This truck load of calves then goes to the support buyers feedlot.
For example: if the support price is $2.50 per pound
and the Local Business bids $3.50 per pound
the local business bidder/buyer only pays $1.00 per pound
the support buyer pays $2.50 per pound
and the 4Her gets the full $3.50 per pound on their sale
and the calf goes on the support truck.
You do not have to have a buyer lined up to let your calf go thru auction. Many local businesses attend our auction as a way to give back to the community.
*Grooming Rule -- Second Violation: The club member would be removed from the show, and not allowed to sell calf at auction.
