Serving Whitman County since 1877
Serving Whitman County since 1877
Supporting youth at the Junior Livestock Show of Spokane and recognizing the impact the show has made on area youth was the focus of an open house at the The McGregor Company last Thursday.
“We’re giving kids the skills they can really carry for the rest of their lives,” said Lisa Baser, second vice president of the show executive board of directors.
While appetizers and drinks were served, a slide show of past junior show participants and where they are now rolled through on a screen.
Alex McGregor spoke first to the gathering, talking about the many challenges agriculture faces, one of the biggest being finding talented young farmers to take on the baton.
“It’s apparent to me, as never before, how rural roots matter,” he said.
McGregor noted that raising livestock through 4H and FFA is some of the finest training a young person can have and the junior livestock show is a cornerstone of something important as it provides critical, practical hands-on experiences.
“I think the junior livestock show is pretty unique in the tradition there,” said Baser, who spoke next. She added the level of competition at the show was equivalent of going to the State B tournament for sports.
“We’d like to see this show thrive,” she said.
The Junior Livestock Show draws youth from Washington, Idaho, Oregon and Montana to show beef, sheep, swine and goats and then sell them. Not only does the show build friendships, it also builds college funds for many of the youth including Alex Hanson who spoke next.
For Hanson, the junior show was an avenue to showcase what she had been doing year-round. Hanson received two college scholarships through the junior show. She also noted it was a great way to network with people.
The other past presenter to speak was Jason Wigen, 2015 LaCrosse grad and current WSU student. Wigen showed beef his freshman year and then switched to goats which were more financially feasible.
“I love showing animals,” he said. At the show you can see improvements in kids who go from animals running loose to becoming champions.
“There’s no greater feeling than seeing the judge walk up to you with a banner,” he said.
John Dixon, past shower and advisor on the show’s executive board, spoke about how businesses can help support the youth at the show. He listed several examples of general managers who were past exhibitors. The junior show has been in Spokane for 83 years, but over time has lost the connection with Spokane businesses. He noted that support was not just buying animals, an example being one bank which put on the buyer’s appreciation lunch.
“There’s successes that come from this deal,” Dixon said.
“We need to keep agriculture alive, and we’re going to do it through these kids,” said Jeff Stehr, junior show auctioneer and executive board director.
They noted that higher sale prices are needed to make the show profitable for kids and any help for first-time showers is appreciated. The board was also looking for ways to reach out and make the sale more successful than it is.
One idea came from Tom Tevlin, Garfield Meats butcher. He stated his biggest growth has been from Spokane, Seattle and Portland people looking for humanely-raised product; product which the junior show has.
“You guys would be amazed at the beef that goes to Seattle,” he said. In the last couple of years, he has seen more “foodies” coming looking for humanely raised produce to put in their freezer. Educating people on how to buy an animal for themselves or jointly was one issue brought up.
The sale for the junior show is this Saturday, May 5 at 8 a.m. at the Spokane County Fair and Expo. The sale starts at 8 a.m. with buyers’ appreciation breakfast beginning at 7 a.m.
Anyone who would like to buy an animal can show up and register for a bidder number the day of the show.
“There is a registration table there and someone mans the table to help them through the registration process,” Baser said. The bidder number is then used to buy the animal of the person’s choice.
After buying, bidders can choose to either haul it away themselves or have a local packer do it. If the animal is to go to a packer, Baser recommended the buyer pre-arrange transportation with the packer. Whitman County packers are Garfield Meats, Outlaw Meats and Colfax Meats.
If the animal is processed by a packer, the cut and wrap instructions and expense will need to be addressed with the packer separate from the sale purchase.
Jana Mathia is a reporter at the Whitman County Gazette.
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