Farm Bureau supports youth at the Delaware State Fair Junior Livestock Auction

HARRINGTON – The Delaware Farm Bureau supported the youth at the Delaware State Fair Junior Livestock Auction on July 25.

Every year, junior exhibitors at the Delaware State Fair in the beef, swine, sheep and goat departments strive to earn a place in the Junior Livestock Auction. This year the auction included the top three steers and the top four lambs, hogs and goats from each of the market classes.

Each animal is sold to the highest bidder, who can choose to keep the animal or donate it to the 4-H or FFA foundations.

The Delaware Farm Bureau (DEFB) made significant impact by spending over $29,000 at the auction this year. They started by purchasing the reserve champion market hog, showed by Brayden Hearn, as well as the reserve champion market steer showed by James Tucker.

They continued to show support by being the highest bidder on fie additional animals in the sale. All of the animals purchased were donated back to the 4-H and FFA.

County Farm Bureaus and committees also showed their support at the Junior Livestock Auction. The New Castle County Farm Bureau spent over $2,000 and the Kent and Sussex County Farm Bureau spent just over $3,000 each.

The Young Farmers and Ranchers committee spent $2,200 on a hog for their half-a-hog raffle.

Steve Breeding, the DEFB first vice president and the Sussex County Farm Bureau president, was happy with the support shown by the Farm Bureau to Delaware’s youth.

“These young people are the next generation of Delaware’s agriculture, so it is our responsibility to invest in them,” Mr. Breeding said. “I am a direct product of the livestock department at the state fair and auction.

“Knowing firsthand the values and responsibilities associated with raising livestock, I feel it is one of those top priorities of the Delaware Farm Bureau to help ensure these young exhibitors are rewarded for their hard work.”

For more information on the Delaware Farm Bureau visit defb.org.