Question

[oakie]

So we are going to hold a meeting regarding this and I would just like some suggestions and resolutions so we can have a brainstorming.  Here is the problem; a local county had it's 4h/ffa youth sale cut by the tax payers. They have tried to merge their kids with other counties and it is not working out. Our county is going to have a meeting discussing options on how we could let them in our fair. The biggest obstacle is the buyers and lack there of. Most of their buyers won't follow them into our county because they don't want to support our county. I know that they don't have to bid on our county steers, but this is what they said.  My idea was to have phone bids.  Any other ideas, or has anyone else had this same problem, and what did you decide. Thanks for your help.

 

[Show Heifer]

Any time there is change, there is going to be resistence. That is just human nature. I would make it a point to send every business in ALL counties a personal invitation to the sale, and then list all the members from that county. Maybe even include what that exhibitor will be selling.  Have the 4-Her's call them a few days before and ask for their support.  If a business was going to support the youth, they won't be able to resist the youngsters call them personally and inviting them to come.
Your hardest sell will be convincing the parents and the youth to be behind the program 110%.  There has to be a united front, even behind your back when the meeting is over.

Hang in there, and remember if YOUR passionate about something, plant your feet and make your sales pitch, but don't plan on it to be easy. Sounds like you'll be fine.

 

[oakie]

I was thinking something along those lines with the buyers, but they already visit local businesses with flyers, photos, and stories about them and their animals.  I have never thought about just inviting them though, that is a good idea.

 

[AAOK]

If there are 8 - 10 people who support having a Show in the County which elected out, they should just organize their own show.  Form an LLC with a 501 C-3, get out and raise the money, and don't let the nay-sayers win!  It's really not that hard to do, if a few are committed.

 

[lightnin4]

Any time there is change, there is going to be resistence. That is just human nature. I would make it a point to send every business in ALL counties a personal invitation to the sale, and then list all the members from that county. Maybe even include what that exhibitor will be selling.  Have the 4-Her's call them a few days before and ask for their support.  If a business was going to support the youth, they won't be able to resist the youngsters call them personally and inviting them to come.
Your hardest sell will be convincing the parents and the youth to be behind the program 110%.  There has to be a united front, even behind your back when the meeting is over.

Hang in there, and remember if YOUR passionate about something, plant your feet and make your sales pitch, but don't plan on it to be easy. Sounds like you'll be fine.

This is true if the exhibitors extend a personal invitation to businesses they usually respond.  Include all businesses in the surrounding areas.  Our local 4-H/FFA livestock sale has buyers from out of county and even out of state (we border the state line).  Most of the buyers from outside the county/state recieve business from those exhibitors & their parents throughout the year and return that support at the fair.  Usually these are implement dealers, livestock auction markets, co-ops, equipment dealers, etc.

Our exhibitors invite buyers to the show &  sale, then a week before the fair they host a meet & greet with the buyers.  They provide finger foods and visit with the buyers and tell them about their projects.  I went for our farm this year and I think I left with 7-8 photos of  exhibitors with theirsteers.

 

[oakie]

If there are 8 - 10 people who support having a Show in the County which elected out, they should just organize their own show.  Form an LLC with a 501 C-3, get out and raise the money, and don't let the nay-sayers win!  It's really not that hard to do, if a few are committed.

They tried that and it didn't work, something didn't work out and I didn't get the details of it, I think it was financial.

 

[COWgirls]

Lucky for them that a "sale" is an option.  Our kids have to find their own buyers.  We are just reorganizing after several years without any kids showing, but there never was a sell in our county. Our kids speak at Rotary and Kiwanis marketing their product.  They also participate in a variety of community outreach events to promote their "projects".  So far, so good with buyers turning into repeat buyers.  Also, the satisfied customers have helped get the word out and we have more buyers than we do product.  The local cattleman's association also voted last year to buy the county champ steer to raffle off (2 halves cut and wrapped) as their annual scholarship fundraiser.  They made money and it resulted in two more happy customers.  I know none of his helps with the merger issue, but just wanted to offer food for thought from one reorganized group to another.

 

[oakie]

I really like that idea actually. We could raffle off one of the calves to create an interest. How do you get the buyers to agree to buy the animals? We solicite buyers but nothing is ever certain, they are invited to a BBQ the night of the sale as an incentive.  If anyone has ever set up an auction with phone bids, could you please tell me how it is done. I need to have a presentation ready by the 7th and have little knowledge of the auction part. The kids projects depend on it so I want it to be convincing. Thanks for all of the help.

 

[rf21970]

Our county has a "buyers committee" that promotes the program and goes to the local businesses to request sponsorship. Very few sponsors actually attend the sale. I wish they would. The sponsor "pledges" a certian amount of money and the committe decides which calves go with which sponsors. We participate in a 8 county show and each county is responsible for finding sponsors for calves from their county.

 

[oakie]

Do you know how to find any literature on that? It sounds like it would work for our situation.

 

[kobo_ranch]

Our county has a "buyers committee" that promotes the program and goes to the local businesses to request sponsorship. Very few sponsors actually attend the sale. I wish they would. The sponsor "pledges" a certian amount of money and the committe decides which calves go with which sponsors. We participate in a 8 county show and each county is responsible for finding sponsors for calves from their county.

Our county does a similar thing and has for years.  Its called a buyers club.  We ask EVERYONE anyone can put in any amount minimum I think is $25, we try to get $100.  Businesses, individuals, anyone who wants to support agriculture and youth in our county.  Back in the old days it was mostly businesses.  But you know alot of people have nice jobs and government type jobs that support this program.  (and should)  Businesses get asked to support everything, so that's why the buyers club was formed.  Even nearly every parent pays in too.  We also do concession stands, and other fundraisers that go into a program for all graduating seniors they get some kind of scholarship.  We really have a great program for the kids.  If you donate to the club or have bought animals in the past you get a free ticket to a steak dinner the night of the auction in which we find people to donate money for and all the parents chip in and help... most all the Moms work it and put it on, and the Dads cook the steaks.  Anyway guess depends on your size of county, but good luck.  You gotta always have a few to have the motivation to get it going and keep it going.

 

[oakie]

We are talking about bringing in 50 more steers to a sale that already consists of 60+. We have a rotary auction that is similar, they sell the calves on a buy back program, is that kinda what they do with the steers they purchase with the fundraising money?

 

[kobo_ranch]

We are talking about bringing in 50 more steers to a sale that already consists of 60+. We have a rotary auction that is similar, they sell the calves on a buy back program, is that kinda what they do with the steers they purchase with the fundraising money?

Back in the old days businesses bought the animal then resold the animal and was held at the regular auction barn.  Now days, its a total donation to the exhibitor.  You have to make the sale, which means you have to place relatively well.  But its so big now I think almost the top 80% make the sale.  You then take your animal to any of the majors, or just sell privately.  We're talking steers, goats, pigs, chickens, everything.
I do think probably just 20-30 steers.  I really can't remember exactly.  Now keep in mind we still have people show up at the sale so the auctioneer just starts the bidding.  IF an animal doesn't get to a certain bid point by the private bidders, that's when the buyers club bids and sometimes gets the winning bid.  It ONLY bids when there's just not enough bids on certain animals and exhibitors.  It really helps to with the politics of a public auction.  You always have some of the kids that don't get that many people bid on there animals, those kiddoes need support too and that's when the buyers club can step in a pay those kids some money.

Its definitely a work in progress.  I think you just have to get a good group of people and keep it going, ask new people, new parents and get as many new ideas going to make anything work.  Even ours today is a work in progress.  Good luck.. just a few ideas.

 

[fed_champions]

This is called a premium auction as opposed to a terminal auction. When our county switched to premium, the quality of cattle was raised significantly.

 

[rf21970]

If it matters, our show is a terminal show.

 

[kobo_ranch]

If it matters, our show is a terminal show.

I agree with the other poster that quality improves with a premium show.  I think a nearby county requires that there top placing animals are terminal.  Frankly I don't understand it, the exhibitor works hard all year just to HAVE to sell it at county level to some business?  You really have to get more sponsors... NOT just businesses.  Everyone has to get involved to make it work.  Or try for that...Parents, friends, retirees, everyone.  Then push for a premium sale that gives the exhibitor the control to choose what and where they want to take there animal.  I'm not talking majors here... IF your animals bring enough if terminal... it works,  if not though premiums are really nice to get.  IMO.

 

[rf21970]

We normally manage 40-60 cents premium. This is a 150 head show.

 

[oakie]

I'm not sure what the premium deal is, but after the auction all of the steers are butchered, unless the new buyer wants to do something else with them. They  sell in order of their class placings.

 

[kobo_ranch]

I'm not sure what the premium deal is, but after the auction all of the steers are butchered, unless the new buyer wants to do something else with them. They  sell in order of their class placings.

The premium auction is a total donation.  The buyer doesn't get anything (except some advertising, and the good feeling of helping a young person who loves agriculture).  You take your animal and do with it as you please.  To another show or sell again at the auction or some even find buyers for dividing there steer to private buyers who want good beef.
Our sale also goes with top placing animals first.  A grand champion county steer can bring anywhere from $2500-5000 depending on the economy!    (clapping)

 

[oakie]

That's pretty cool, I had never heard of that before. I don't think that the kids around here would want to keep their animal, except the little girls, but I see how kids that are very competetive can keep their calves to go on to other shows. Pretty neat.