Youth market show planned

A youth livestock exhibition has been organized to provide Whitman County youth a market show and sale. A committee of 18 parents, youth leaders, booster organizers, sale committee members and barn superintendent has announced the Whitman County Youth Livestock Exhibition, set for Sept. 11 and 12. The event would consist of market show for swine, steer, goats and sheep on the first day and sale the second.

"It's still a work in progress," said Nathan Moore, committee member and Colton FFA advisor.

The key word at this point is "tentatively" as the committee still needs approval from Whitman County Commissioners and the health department.

"If we have to pull things back, we pull things back," Moore said.

While the group has a schedule and expectations, it is still awaiting guidance from the state task force which met July 1. That guidance is expected to arrive next week, but in the event it is delayed, the group wanted to have the ball rolling on the exhibition.

Moore noted they are not calling it a fair intentionally–it is a youth livestock exhibition, not a fair. Youth will be limited to one market animal and if that animal doesn't make weight, it goes straight home. Each showman would be allowed one parent in the barn.

"We're trying to minimize the numbers in the barn," Moore said. "We don't want a lot of congregating in the barn."

The event won't have decorations or provide bedding. Exhibitors will need to bring their own shavings. Animals should arrive with as much of the fitting as possible already done.

Check-in and showing would be staggered. Swine and steers are scheduled to check in between 6 and 9 a.m. and begin showing at 11 a.m. in their respective barns. Goats and sheep are scheduled to arrive between 10 a.m. and noon with showing at 1 p.m. Barns would close for the evening at 7 p.m.

Barns would open again Saturday at 6 a.m. with the sale to begin at 9 a.m. The sale order follows what would have been this year with beef, goat, sheep and then hog. Every animal that comes would have to go through the sale. Moore said for those who have pre-sold their animals, the buyer could still purchase it through the sale. Once sold, the animals are shipped out and exhibitor would not be released until the pens are clean and taken down. Failure to check out with the barn superintendent will result in a $50 penalty subtracted from the sale check.

"Especially this year, everybody's gotta pitch in to make this work," he said.

Moore is hopeful the youth will not have to wear masks while showing, but uncertain.

"We're going to be limited by what the health department says," he said.

The auction will look a little different as well. It will still be conducted in the live format, but only those with bidding numbers would be allowed and the committee is asking buyers limit the number of people representing them. Moore buys animals for the Colton-Uniontown booster from youth of that area. He plans to only be in the sale building when Colton-Uniontown youth are selling.

The committee is hopeful the task force's guidelines will give the information needed to move forward with the event. There are still some big unknowns including if they can use the fairground. The committee is also seeking sponsorship for the event to help offset costs so the sales committee does not have to cover it all.

The committee meets next July 23 in anticipate of the scheduled sales committee and fair board meetings. Members of the committee are Charly and Shelby Hennigar, Andy Hennigar, Jerry and Susie Hennigar, Paula Nelson, Erik Reiber, Kim and Shane Berquist, Jami Imler, Erin Startin, Megan Fertakis, Mellissa Dugger, Tiffany Startin, Wayne Druffel, Lisa Baser, Jessica Moore and Nathan Moore.