How You Can Reward Excellence in FFA and 4-H Livestock Projects

Your high-bids and donations help future leadership.

Each fall the Rogers County Fair is a highlight for many Rogers County residents. According to fair officials there are nearly 29,000 visitors to the fair during the 4-day run, it’s a big and fun event for fairgoers and participants alike. However, the highlight event for many comes at the end of the fair during the Rogers County Junior Premium Auction. Scheduled this year for Monday, September 15th, the auction, also referred to as the Premium Sale, will highlight the best of the best in the livestock shows. The top 89 exhibitors in the livestock shows representing champions and winners in cattle (beef and dairy), sheep, swine, and goats are eligible to “sell” in the Premium Sale. All the sale participants are student exhibitors taking part in FFA and 4-H youth livestock programs in Rogers County. Don’t worry, if you are a buyer, you won’t actually be taking home an animal, however this fun-for-all bidding is for an important cause that benefits FFA and 4-H student livestock projects and ag education.

Excellence in Livestock Projects

This annual event highlights excellence in livestock projects reflecting the student’s education in animal selection, care, management, and exhibition. Success in the showring and qualification for the sale is the culmination of months of dedicated work by these FFA and 4-H students. “Rogers County has a reputation both in the state of Oklahoma and nationally as being home to excellent livestock and youth exhibitors. Each year many of these exhibitors earn championships at big nationwide summer shows,” said Susan Gebhart, President of Rogers County Premium Auction Committee. “We’re incredibly proud of our student exhibitors and their livestock in Rogers County. Additionally, many of these animals were raised here by the young people showing them. That speaks volumes about the future of agriculture here.”

About the Premium Sale

Students compete in the livestock shows during the fair to showcase their animals and to test their showmanship skills. While it may look to the casual observer like a beauty contest, the judging is evaluating many skills and management decisions that culminate in an animal that walks into the ring at “12 o’clock” which is barn shorthand for as close to perfection as one gets in terms of conformation, condition, health, and behavior. It takes hours of work on training, feeding, grooming, exercise, and ideal living conditions for animals to live up to their genetic potential. Livestock championships are oftentimes won by razor thin margins. As you can imagine, this is an environment where dedication, attention to detail, perseverance, planning, and good sportsmanship are all important. While the students certainly learn best practices in animal husbandry, all of those other skills are what help the exhibitors become better students, excellent employees, and future business leaders in agriculture and many other professions. “We count amongst the alumni of the Rogers County Junior Premium Auction many students who have become local business leaders and professionals with well-known names in government, business, banking, medicine, law and, of course, agriculture,” said Gebhart. “These students are raising great livestock, and our community is raising great kids,” said Gebhart. “Through the Premium Sale, we support their continued development by ensuring they have the funding for their next livestock project and funds going to their savings for higher education at college, technical or trade schools.”

The auction provides a chance for the community to contribute to the student’s future endeavors. “While the sale appears to be a traditional auction, the animal doesn’t change ownership. The money bid is a premium (financial prize) used to fund new projects or go into the student’s educational fund,” Gebhart explained. “Besides bidding in the sale, the community may also contribute to students in the auction through add-on donations.” Add-on donations can be made during the live auction or through a link on Premium Sale FB Event Page in any amount. The add-on website is open from Sept 15 - Oct 5. “We are always delighted to see add-ons coming in! You would be surprised to see how quickly $10 here or $20 there adds up,” said Gebhart.

Showmanship Scholarships

The Premium Sale also features the presentation of showmanship scholarships earned by the Senior Showmanship Champion in each of the livestock species plus the Senior Horse Showmanship winner. Gebhart said, “Champions receive a 1-year scholarship to Rogers State University, with 6 division winners each year. It’s a significant achievement for those kids and a very generous offering from Rogers State.”

We hope you’ll support our local FFA and 4-H youth during the Rogers County Junior Premium Sale! The live sale is Monday, Sept.15, at the Claremore Expo Center. If you attend in person, make sure to arrive early for “Meet the Students” when you can chat with the exhibitors and see their livestock up close all within the air-conditioned part of the Expo Hall. For more information, visit www.rogerscountyfair.com or check out their FB event page.