The luster surrounding Boulder County’s Jr. Livestock Premium Sale will be seen largely through a computer screen for the first time in its dusty history.
COVID-19 restrictions and economic woes brought on by the virus mean the annual sale will be done online starting today with an emphasis on donating money to help the young sellers defray the cost of raising and showing their livestock.
The virus blocked all on-site gatherings at the 151-year-old Boulder County Fair earlier this month. COVID-19 also shut down meat processing plants and restaurants that usually package and sell the beef to consumers, father and Boulder County rancher John Herring said.
Local beef producers also took a hit when an April fire temporarily shuttered the Innovative Foods meat processing plant in Evans, Herring said.
“It’s been a tough year, everybody has had a down year,” Herring said. “We’ve had a lot of buyers who traditionally come here to bid on animals but they won’t be here this year.”
Some traditional buyers and agriculture supporters are showing up, however, to donate. Herring hopes the Future Farmers of American and 4-H youth who worked all year to prepare their goats, cattle and chickens for the traditionally high-priced sales event will still see a payoff for their efforts.
“This is like their Super Bowl,” Herring said. ”This is something they look forward to all year and get a little payback for their work.”
His 10-year-old son, Jonah, hopes to repeat as grand champion in the market beef category after his win at last year’s livestock sale at the Boulder County Fairgrounds.
The money they collect at the annual sale at the Bounty County Fairgrounds — sometimes in the thousands of dollars — often helps pay for college or for more livestock to raise and show, Herring said.
“For a lot of them (the kids) this is an investment in their future,” Herring said.
To contribute to one of the 125 junior livestock exhibitors, people can log onto SConlinesales.com starting at 2 p.m. today through 7 p.m. Aug. 15. Registered bidders can search for Boulder County Jr. Livestock Sales page.
People can then select exhibitors to support and enter the amount of donations. People can also drop off or mail their donation to the Boulder County Fair, in care of Jr. Livestock Sale, 9595 Nelson Road. Ste. 200, Longmont, 80501.
People also can sponsor six species-specific livestock departments. “We offer beef, hogs, goats, sheep, poultry and rabbits. Pick your favorite and pledge your support,” according to the fair website.
The online sale and donations are being conducted by SC Online Sales in Robinson, Illinois. Stephanie Sindel, the company’s virtual show and sales manager, said the Boulder County event is one of several state and county fairs SC Online is working this year because COVID-19 is preventing traditional fair gatherings..
“Going to a county fair is such an in-person event and this year it’s just a different scenario,” Sindel said. “We just want to give an opportunity for these kids to see how their hard work is going to pay off for them in the future. I think the community will rally around these kids, like most people do during a pandemic or other hard times.”
