Livestock show makes a comeback

YUMA, Ariz. (KYMA, KECY) - The Yuma County Fair may be canceled but the livestock competition and auction will still take place this year at the fairgrounds.

Jeff Johnson is the treasurer of the Yuma County Fair Junior Livestock Committee.

After a full year of not being able to put on the annual animal show and auction the Yuma County Fair Junior Livestock Committee is putting the finishing touches on the event.

"In the back, behind me here you see the carcass display and the champion pins. And then you, as you go on to the barn, near us here, is the swine portion of it, and then the backside of the barn over there as the Holstein calves,” Johnson explained.

Livestock exhibitors will include members of Yuma County 4-H.

4-H is a youth development organization committed to allowing kids and teens to gain life skills to become successful.

Amy Parrott works as an agent for 4-H youth development.

“Thru the auction kids are able to recoup some of their initial investment and then also there's usually a little bit of extra. And so for a lot of kids, that is what starts either their college fund it's what helps them buy their first car,” Parrott said.

The organization also gives them a chance to pursue their interests by enrolling in projects - from photography to computers, from building rockets to, you guessed it, raising sheep.

"We have some of the hardest working kids, I mean they give up their spring break their everyday feeding at the crack of dawn, and then they feed again at night. They work hard,” Parrott added.

For participants in the livestock show, this is an opportunity to show off their animals and potentially even sell them.

“Last year was no exception this community was outstanding in their support of these kids and helping us to be able to sell these animals and move them, and so that the kids didn't kind of get stuck with, with a debt, you know some of these kids take loans out for these projects and, and they were, they were concerned about the situation that we're going to be in our community has, has been great,” Johnson explained.

Now, they are asking if you do plan to come out that you wear a mask and social distance.

Johnson says if you love animals and livestock this is the event for you all to support and benefit the kids participating.

It is all happening this week and the auction goes live Saturday, March 3rd.