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Ventura County 4-H
Market Animal News
July 23, 2020
This email was received yesterday from Megan and Scott, the creators of 805agkids, who are working with the auction organizers on behalf of all youth.
Hello!
 
We want to give you an update on the 2020 Junior Livestock Virtual Auction and market shows. We’ve included a lot of new information below. You can also find this information (& more!) on our website on the  buyers  and  kids  pages. 
 
We’ve also included two attachments to this email (see buttons above):
·       Buyer FAQ Sheet  you can print and include in your buyer letters
·       Virtual Stock Show video requirements  for market show video uploads
 
Additionally, we’ve added examples of video entries to our website for you to watch. Links to those videos are on the  kids page
 
Q: When is my Youth for the Quality Care of Animals (YQCA) training due?
A: Youth for the Quality Care of Animals (YQCA) training must be completed by  August 1 , with proof emailed to  cgarmon@venturacountyfair.org
 
Q: When and where do I submit my video & photo for market and auction?
A: A link for registration to participate in this year’s market shows and Junior Livestock Virtual Auction will be coming at the end of the month. Entries will open at 7am PST on Friday, July 31 st  and close at 5pm PST on Friday, August 7 th .  
 
Q: What does my video need to look like?
A: The Virtual Stock Show video requirements are attached to this email (see blue buttons above(. You’ll also be required to show an entry card at the beginning. You must use the entry card provided. As soon as it is available, we will send it out to you.  DO NOT CREATE YOUR VIDEO WITHOUT THE ENTRY CARD.  You can watch examples of video entries for beef, swine, goats/sheep on our  website
 
Q: How are champions decided?
A: Market shows will take place the week before the virtual auction. Exhibitors’ videos must be uploaded between July 31-August 7. (A link will be provided closer to this date - either the day before or the day of.) The market shows will  not  be visible to the public or exhibitor. Judging will take place on Tuesday, August 11. Once the judging has been completed for all the species, the champions will be announced, likely within 24-48 hours. There will be a Sale of Champions at 12pm during the 2020 Junior Livestock Virtual Auction. 
 
Q: How does the 2020 Junior Livestock Auction work?
A: This year, instead of buyers showing up in-person at the fairgrounds to bid and buy animals, the auction will take place live online on Saturday, August 15. An auctioneer will sell the animals in real-time, so buyers will need to watch for the animals they’re hoping to bid on. 
 
Q: What is the Auction schedule?
A: The sale will begin at 9am on Saturday, August 15. Note: This is a live, virtual auction with real-time bidding. Once an animal is sold, buyers can no longer bid on it. Species will be sold in the following order, beginning at 9 am:
-      Meat pens
-      Swine
-      Steers
-      Goats
-      Lambs
*There will be a Sale of Champions at 12pm.
A lamb benefiting the Ventura County Fair Foundation will be auctioned off last.
 
An auction order that includes exhibitors’ names will be posted on this website when it is available, likely the day before the virtual auction. 
 
Q: What are the options for buyers once they buy an animal?
A: This year, the fair is strongly encouraging resale. If the buyer decides to allow the animal to be resold, the animal will be sent to a wholesale stock yard and be resold at market rate. Any proceeds from the resale will go back to the kids. 
 
For live pick-up, the buyer and exhibitor must work together to make arrangements. 
 
If the buyer chooses to keep the animal for their freezer, it is up to the buyer and the exhibitor to make an appointment for a butcher, pay for the processing, cut & wrap, and getting the animal to the butcher. It is the responsibility of the exhibitor to continue the feed/care of the animal until this can be arranged. Please note: our local butchers are extremely busy at this time, many without availability until well into late September. 
 
Q: Can buyers do add-ons this year?
A: Yes. However, per VirtualStockShow.com, the ability to receive add-ons is only available to the kids who participate in the auction. The market shows take place on a private platform that is not available to the public. No bidding/buying or financial transactions take place in coordination with the market shows. The auction takes place on a different, public-facing platform where it allows for bidding/buying and add-ons. Add-ons will be accepted online August 15-22, 2020.  
 
Q: Is there a commission being taken from the sale of the animals or add-ons?
A: The Fair will not be taking a commission on the sale of animals or add-ons this year. All proceeds will go to the kids.
 
Q: What information can I send to my buyers?
A: We have updated the  805 Ag Kids buyer page  with information and FAQs. It includes information regarding the auction, add-ons, processing options, and more. We will continue to update this page as more information becomes available. When writing buyer letters, this is a good place to direct them:  805AgKids.com/Buy You can also print the  Buyer FAQ Sheet  (attached to this email - see blue buttons above) to include with your buyer letter. 
 
Our efforts
  • Buyer Outreach – We have been working hard to expand our buyer’s list and raise awareness within the community about this event. We’ve had 125+ email addresses submitted through 805AgKids.com, most of which request buyer information. Of those potential buyers, only 5 overlapped with the Fair’s past buyer list. 
  • Buyer’s Guide – We are helping put together a guide to mail and email to past buyers & sponsors. This should go out within a week.
  • Social Media – We continue to promote the virtual buyer letters we’ve received, in the order we received them. We’re also running social media adverts promoting the Junior Livestock Virtual Auction and donations.
  • Cumulus Cares – Cumulus Cares radio show has been airing a special feature on the virtual auction, appealing for donations from the public which will go directly to the kids. 
  • Radio/TV – Our radio ads and TV commercials continue to air, thanks to our incredible media sponsors. 
  • Donations – We’ve had incredible support from the community so far, donating over $18,000. Our goal is much bigger than that and we’ll continue to look for donations to go back to the kids. 
 
Please be sure to share this information with your clubs and local ag families. 
 
-Scott  –  scott@805AgKids.com
-Megan  –  megan@805AgKids.com
It is the policy of the University of California (UC) and the UC Division of Agriculture & Natural Resources not to engage in discrimination against or harassment of any person in any of its programs or activities Inquiries regarding ANR’s nondiscrimination policies may be directed to UCANR, Affirmative Action Compliance & Title IX Officer, University of California, Agriculture and Natural Resources, 2801 Second Street, Davis, CA 95618, (530) 750-1397. Complete nondiscrimination policy statement can be found at http://ucanr.edu/sites/anrstaff/files/215244.pdf
Ventura County 4-H
 287 S. Briggs Rd.
Santa Paula, CA 93060
805-525-9293