SANTA MARIA, Calif. – With the Junior Livestock Show at the Santa Barbara County Fair now winding down, agriculture students are hoping to cash in and earn some big bucks during the two-day live auction.
On Friday, the fair will hold the auction for small animals beginning at noon. Rabbits and poultry will be sold in the Auction Barn, near the Gate 5 entrance at the corner of Stowell and Depot streets.
Large animals, including beef, swine, goats, sheep and agriculture mechanics projects will be auctioned off beginning at 8 a.m.
For students in local FFA, 4-H, Grange and other independent organizations, the auction culminates several months of hard work while they have been raising and caring for their animal projects.
On the line for the students is a significant cash reward for their work, which in some cases may rise into the hundreds or even thousands of dollars, all depending on the animal species and the buyer.
While money earned will help finance costs associated with purchasing and raising the animal, for many of the students, additional profits will also go towards financial costs for college or other educational needs.
Last year, the combined total raised at the auction was an impressive $1.9 million, which was close to the $2.2 million raised in 2019, the last year the Junior Livestock Show was held in-person.
The number of animals at this year’s fair exceeds the amount last year by more than 300, so it’s highly likely the final amount raised at the auction will exceed the 2022 total.
For those who would like more information about the Junior Livestock Auction, click here.
