Tyler Abercrombie is an experienced hand when it comes to animal auctions. As the saying goes, “this wasn’t his first rodeo” or at least the first time this Ausaymas 4-H member was at auction. He presented three rabbits, averaging 3.5 to 5.5 pounds, to bidders at the 2017 Junior Livestock Auction, Sept. 33 at Bolado Park, during the 95 annual county fair.
Whether it was the luck of the draw that he was the first to step up on stage with his bunnies or, as someone in the crowd suggested, he is really good at promoting supporters, pound-for-pound his bunnies ended up being some of the most expensive livestock around, as they fetched the highest bid for rabbits at $900.
This set in motion several hours of intense bidding for turkeys, chickens, goats, lambs, hogs, and cattle. The kids, as members of 4-H or FFA (Future Farmers of America), will most likely deposit the bulk of what they make into college funds or buy another young animal to nourish and love until it is time to go to another of the many auctions held at fairs around the area.
Claire Gastello, 17, attends Notre Dame High School in Salinas and doesn’t live on a farm but has been in 4-H since she was nine years old. She was at Bolado Park to present her 243-pound pig, the eighth one she has raised and sold. She got into 4-H because it was a family tradition.
“My mom did it and she wanted me to experience it because it teaches you responsibility,” she said. “It isn’t just about showing animals. There are a lot of other projects you can do too.”
Gastello said her family’s home is on an acre and they have a small barn where she keeps her pig. She said when kids who are not familiar with raising animals to be slaughtered ask her why she does it, she says animals raised by kids in 4-H or FFA experience a better quality of life and even love than those raised in factory farms or out on ranches, where they don’t get individual attention.
With Gastello was her friend Marielle Hayford,16, from Hollister, who also attends Notre Dame. She has been involved with 4-H for seven years. She has raised and sold six pigs and two turkeys. As with many activities that draw youngsters, she got into 4-H because most of her friends were members.
“It just seemed like a good experience,” she said. “I always came to the fair and I liked seeing the animals, so I started when I was ten. I really liked it. It teaches you to be responsible for another life. You feed it, walk it and make sure it has all its needs. You just grow up.”
Michael Dawson, 11, from Hollister, and who goes to Rancho San Justo Middle School, was sharing a pen with his 242-pound pig, Penny. He has been showing animals since he was five years old. He said Penny is his second pig. He got Penny in late July and when she goes up to be auctioned off, he was hoping to get at least $5 a pound, netting him a hefty $1,210, which he would add to his college fund. He said he plans on staying in 4-H until he can’t do it anymore.
Cheryl Nelson, who has a beauty shop in Hollister, has volunteered as an auctioneer clerk for 39 years. She grew up participating in 4-H and FFA. She explained the event is for 4-H and FFA kids who have been raising livestock for 60 to 90 days (longer for cattle), and have attended market classes. Each has been judged and ranked and would be presenting their animals.
“They’ve worked really hard and learned how to feed and care for their animals, and how to control them in the show ring,” she said. “Our community and big companies are amazing. They support them to get the best prices they can. A lot of our kids go to other fairs earlier in the year. They go to King City, Monterey and Santa Cruz. We even have a few who participate in the state fair.”
She explained that kids participating in 4-H can start showing animals at fairs at nine and continue to they’re 18. FFA, she said, is held at high schools. She said there are multiple 4-H clubs that offer more than livestock training.
“We also offer sewing, arts and crafts, archery, dog care and training,” she said. “These are kids ranging from nine to getting ready to go to college. In order to be eligible to come to a fair you have to go to monthly club meetings and project meetings, where they do demonstrations and presentations. You have to do community projects and service. A lot of our 4-H kids raise money and go to Target and buy bikes as Christmas gifts. We call them anytime there’s an event in town where we need volunteers. All of this helps instill building blocks for the future.”
She described those who come to bid on the kids’ animals as some of the most generous people around. She said business people, family friends and grandparents of the kids pay top dollar for the animals, far more than they would go for under normal circumstances.
“That’s the whole idea, to give the kids some money,” she said.
Hear the auction call as the winning bid for Tyler Ambercrombie’s rabbits:
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