Purchase and invest in local foods through 4-H County Fair Livestock Auction

Iowa 4-H’ers have been “learning by doing” since 1902. One of the long-standing traditions of 4-H has been to teach young people skills of animal husbandry, livestock nutrition and production practices that will raise quality animals that go into the food system. The 15,000 Iowa 4-H’ers enrolled in livestock projects produce about 17 million pounds of meat. Add to that the poultry and dairy projects. That is a lot of pork chops, steaks, milk and eggs.

4-H and FFA members are also part of the “local food system.” The term “food system” refers to all the processes involved in providing us with food: growing, harvesting, processing, packaging, transporting, marketing, consuming, and disposal. Local food systems provide additional ecological and economic benefits like reduced trucking costs and jobs for labor and processing.

The benefits of a local food system are vividly demonstrated at our county fairs each year. At the Washington County Fair, 4-H members have the option to sell their market animals at the end of the fair week to local buyers at a live auction on the fairgrounds. In addition to receiving sometimes top dollar for their animals, youth get to shake the hand of the person who bought their animal and create an instant connection from farm to fork.

Washington County 4-H/FFA members sell over 250 head of livestock at the County Fair Auction traditionally that are purchased by local businesses and personal buyers. Majority of these animals sold are processed at local meat lockers or taken to other local auctions. Additional dollars are invested to pay the processing costs and trucking fees as well. The County Fair Livestock Auction is a local food investment as the money goes to local youth and business over and over again throughout the process.

Livestock will be sold in the following order this year: swine, cattle, sheep, goats, rabbit, and poultry. Cattle and sheep will be sold based on weigh-in weight and rabbits, poultry, goats, and swine will be sold by head. Buyers are able to have cattle, sheep and goats immediately loaded and taken to the Kalona Sale Barn for resale next week and those checks from Kalona are sent to you, the buyer. All buyers at the county fair auction pay the youth directly. Extension staff prepares the auction order. It is often available digitally Thursday evening, if you would like that emailed Thursday evening, please let amygreen@iastate.edu know. Otherwise, printed auction programs will be available for pick up at the breakfast Friday morning.

The 4-H pledge resonates through the local food system. Head, Heart, Hands, Health. Local food systems offer opportunities to support the livelihoods and well-being of people in the community. Consumers can know where their food comes from, how it was made, and meet the people who raised it. Local food systems inspire people to connect, to cooperate, and to care. What a great legacy for our youth!

The 2025 Washington County Fair Livestock Auction will be Friday, July 18 at 8:30 a.m. in the main show ring at the Washington County Fairgrounds. Animals being sold that have been raised and cared for by Washington County 4-H and FFA members. Market livestock being sold include market sheep, market hogs (premium sale only), goats, cattle, chickens and rabbits. All those interested in buying local meats and supporting Washington County youth and their livestock projects are welcome. Contact Amy at the Washington County Extension Office, 319-653-4811, with any questions.