Mid-State Fair livestock auction went virtual, but still raised more than $1 million
Although the coronavirus outbreak canceled the 2020 California Mid-State Fair, the junior livestock show and auction went on — virtually — raising more than $1 million for local FFA and 4-H members.
After the fair was canceled in late May, leaders opted to hold an online show and auction from July 22-25. The fair announced the winners of the livestock show on Aug. 1.
For the auction, buyers used an online platform to view photos and videos of the animals and place their bids, said Hailey Rose Switzer, Mid-State Fair special programs coordinator.
FFA and 4-H members took videos of themselves showing their animals, which were submitted to judges.
Due to the pandemic, significantly fewer animals were shown and auctioned off this year.
About 530 animals were entered, compared to 900 last year, Switzer said. Some 4-H and FFA members opted not to raise animals this year due to the pandemic and the cancellation of the fair, she said. Others decided to sell their animals independently and didn’t take part in the virtual show and auction.
As of July 26, the auction had raised about $840,000, with add-ons totaling more than $300,000, Switzer said. Add-ons will close on Tuesday, and the official auction results will be released on Friday.
“We are incredibly happy with how the auction turned out,” Switzer said.
Switzer was especially happy to see local buyers step up and purchase animals. Last year, the Wood-Claeyssens Foundation purchased about half the animals shown at the Mid-State Fair, but the nonprofit couldn’t participate this year due to the pandemic.
“We had to get our local buyers to come back,” Switzer said.
What’s a virtual Mid-State Fair livestock show like?
Brayden Kahler, 17, of Atascadero FFA virtually showed his hog, Boon, to become the 2020 supreme champion in the market swine category.
Kahler is a repeat supreme and grand champion winner several times over — this year’s title is his fifth at the Mid-State Fair.
Barbie Jamrog, Brayden’s mother, has been showing animals since the 1980s and introduced her son to livestock shows at a young age. The family raises show animals on their Atascadero property year-round.
“It’s been a big part of our lives,” Jamrog said. “Summer time is fair time.”
Kahler said he expected the fair would be canceled after schools closed. In spite of the disappointment, he decided to put his best foot forward in the competition.
“I took it as stepping into a whole new aspect of showing,” Kahler said.
Jamrog took six different 90-second videos of Kahler showing his pig before they got the right one, even though the animal can’t be shown to its potential on a recording.
“You can’t get the full perspective of the pig from the video,” Jamrog said.
The two also promoted the show and auction on Facebook and tried to court potential buyers. Ultimately, Jamrog participated in the auction and bought the pig back for future shows.
Kahler and Jamrog are happy the fair put together the show and auction and were pleased with the process, in spite of the circumstances.
“We’re super grateful for what the fair has done for us,” Jamrog said. “We’re just trying to make the best of it.”
To see the full results of the 2020 Mid-State Fair livestock show and auction, visit midstatefair.com/fair/livestock-info.php.
