The Junior Livestock Auction and Small Livestock Auction are the culmination of a year’s activity for Tuolumne County’s 4-H, FFA and Independent exhibitors. These young exhibitors select, feed and groom their animals, and the Mother Lode Fair is where they present their projects to the judge and receive the monetary value for their product along with public recognition for their efforts. All livestock exhibitors have completed the Youth for the Quality Care of Animals certification, which stresses animal well-being, food safety, and character awareness.
The Junior Livestock Auction kicks off Saturday, July 6, 2019, with a Previous Buyers Reception and Buyers Registration at 3 PM on the Livestock Lawn. Before the Auction starts at 5 PM, take time to walk through the Beef, Sheep and Swine Barns, talk to our exhibitors and preview the livestock coming up for auction! This auction is a terminal sale.
The Small Livestock Auction happens on Sunday, July 7, 2019, and this year features Rabbits and Goats. The Auction starts at 2:30 PM with the Parade of Champions, and is immediately followed by the Small Livestock Benefit Auction and the Bob Miller Memorial Barbecue, both hosted by the Tuolumne County Small Livestock Exhibitors Association. Lots sold through the Small Livestock Auction can be processed for your freezer, donated back to be resold through the Small Livestock Benefit Auction (with proceeds to go to the Small Livestock Association’s scholarships, awards, fair equipment and supplies), or can be taken home live. The Small Livestock Association flyer and proxy bidding form can be found here.
What to do with your purchase? You can have it custom cut and wrapped, fill your freezer and enjoy; or, have the animal automatically resold to a meat packer at market price and pay only the difference. Market prices are posted the day of the auction. (These options are available for Beef, Sheep, Swine, and even Meat Goats!)
Bid and Buy!! Buy alone or get together with friends or other businesses and split it! Select your animal yourself, OR have the Auction Committee help you bid. Auction Committee members and Livestock Staff are available to help and answer questions. Details on how to be a buyer at the Junior Livestock Auction, as well as a proxy bidding form if you are unable to attend Saturday’s Auction but would like a member of the Auction Committee to bid for you, are available from Auction Committee members or can be downloaded here.
If you would like more information on the Junior Livestock or Small Livestock Auction, please contact Kim Helmbold, Livestock Superintendent, at 209-532-7428. You may also contact any member of the Junior Livestock Auction Committee.
Junior Livestock Auction Committee
- Stuart Helmbold, Chairperson
- Steven Treat, Vice Chairperson
- Gail Aruta
- Lettie Beeman
- Leslie Bloom
- Rod Hampton
- Jason Hart
- Dalaine Heagle
- Kim Helmbold
- Stacy Ingalls
- Kathy Kellogg
- Ashley Lincoln
- Missy Marino
- Lindsay Mattos
- Jim Miller
- Sue Moore
- Zach Rehder
- Tami Rodrigues
- Micki Rucker
- Sharon Smales
- Wes Wittman, DVM
- Billy Youngman
- Kendra Youngman