Fair auction caps off Jasper County Fair

COLFAX — Thursday wasn’t just the last day of the Jasper County Fair, it was also the end of the season for 4-H and FFA exhibitors.

As the fair starts to wind down, fairgoers across the grounds are drawn to the annual livestock auction, one of the highlights of the fair. Exhibitors will show their animals one last time as they cross the auction block, and for some, it’s hard to let go.

The auction, a longstanding tradition at the Jasper County Fair, wouldn’t work without the support of the community. After local slaughterhouses set the base prices for animals, fairgoers bid on top of those prices and the money goes back to the young exhibitors. On Thursday, the auctioneer reminded those in attendance how important their support was.

“We need your help here in a gracious way tonight,” he said. “We’ve always had a good sale here, and with your help, we’ll have a good sale tonight.”

Many of the animals at the auction were marked for resale, bidders pay the difference between the base price and their bid. Goat Superintendent Erlene Leonard said the community’s show of support is a good sign for the fair. Many of the bidders represent local businesses, making a purchase at the auction is a way to give back to the community.

“They can buy these nice individual animals and the businesses can show their support to these kids,” Leonard said.

Not all of the animals are marked for resale, however. Leonard said the Jasper County Fair is one of a handful of county fairs that still hold a live animal auction, and some of the animals from the sale are sent to local meat lockers.

“We still have a lot of people in the county that want the meat,” Leonard said.

Traditionally held on the last day of the fair, the auction closes the books on annual Ag-event, but for some exhibitors, selling their animals can be difficult.

Sisters Megan and Hanna Townley of Prairie City, have been showing goats for three years at the fair. Megan said the first year she watched her goat go through the auction was a challenge.

“The first year it was tough, but it’s gotten a lot better,” Megan Townley said. “We don’t name the goats anymore, but we used to. It’s a lot harder to let them go.”

Leonard’s seen exhibitors struggle to sell animals before. It’s something that gets easier as they get older, but it can be tough for the younger kids, she said.

“Yeah, your heart gets a crust on it,” Leonard said, as she watched the sale Thursday night.

Like any business, good marketing helps. Building relationships and getting your name out into the community gives exhibitors a better shot at upping their bid price. Townley said it’s an important factor to consider.

“If people know you, you have a better chance of selling for more,” she said.

After the animals are auctioned off and loaded onto trailers parked just outside of the arena, exhibitors have one last job to do — writing thank you cards to the winning bidders. It’s a tradition at the Jasper County Fair, Townley said the cards are easy to write, they’re grateful for the support they’ve received from the community.

“There’s a lot of good people out there that like to support us every year,” Townley said.

Building that support is a critical part of making sure the Jasper County Fair continues to thrive, Leonard said. A fair “lifer,” she’s been involved with the fair since 1982 when she volunteered to help with a pie judging contest. She knows the FFA Creed by heart and she’s quick to recite it at the drop of a hat. To survive, the fair needs the community’s support at the auction, it encourages exhibitors to take on the challenge of raising animals and preparing them for the sale.

“If it wasn’t for the kids, there’s no future here,” Leonard said.

Contact David Dolmage at 641-792-3121 ext. 6532 or ddolmage@newtondailynews.com