The whole 4-H or junior fair issue is that almost everyone around here has a market animal show as part of the fair. In my home county there may be 100 beef, hogs, sheep and then a few smaller animals in a sale. These are bought by businesses and monies go into scholarship funds and other opportunities for youth. That is a flood of slaughtering that goes to the local locker plants in a hurry. Don't know how that will come down this year with several fairs already being cancelled.

Bryce

Here I think Beef and Pork projects book time early because they have carcass judging as well.
but I am not sure.

I am a superintendent for our fair in natural sciences and will have a tiny fraction of the project entries this year. I think they are going to have the fair , I will be there to do my part but I am not sure it will be very well attended at all. I am not sure where they will get a judge.

Still don't see the connection with 4H? With the fairs taking place, those animals would ALL be slaughtered at the local places. Without the fairs, at least some of them will go to the sale barn and end up in the large packing plants. So in theory, cancelling the fairs will clear up space at the local slaughter facilities.

Pete, the sale here is July 9th. I believe I've got 5 or 6 already scheduled from the sale

I just had a call for 4-H and was able to get a bit more info.

In our county the Auction committee books slots for all the auction animals , they have confirmed every animal has a slot at a local butcher.

maybe the 4-H auction will bring an added premium that it comes not only with a quality animal and an otherwise unobtainable butcher slot.

I bet people could make $ selling their spots. Especially if animals get cheaper and meat gets in short supply

There can be virtual or zoom type auctions if planning ahead. We are witnessing a multitude of new ways to accomplish things that have been done in a traditional way for decades. Some things will not likely return to the way things were done in the past.

Bryce

if meats gets in short supply it wont be any different than jimmy carters oil crisis

My Idea was to move it outside , it is normally in one barn they could spread out a lot more outside

but you are absolutely correct setting up proxy bidding with a zoom meeting could work.

the other issue is UW Mad controls all state 4-H now if they don't allow employees and volunteers of 4-H to gather in groups , we then have to figure out how to run a fair without any 4-H onsite.

it sounded like they are trying to line up judges currently

then superintendents are getting called

probably not going to be a youth in action barn food stand that is a huge money maker for the youth leaders and clubs.

unsure if FFA will have their concessions or if the Dairy queens will staff the Ag chest trailer

if it happens it will be a whole lot of different.

I’m thinking that 4H has little to do with it. I think a lot of people are realizing it would be a good idea to have a freezer full of beef and pork since the alleged pandemic. Like minded folks that are trappers and outdoorsman would think that’s just a normal thing to do in the first place but there are lots of people who don’t always have a reserve. I think a lot of other folks see an opportunity to make some money buying 1/2 and whole beef and hogs and reselling them for profit.

it was really more just us discussing how this is effecting 4-H

our butchers in the area have been booked out 3+ months for years

I have several friends that call and reserve butcher dates then call back their feeder pig breeder and order as many pigs as they could get slots . been that way for a while here.

3 months here is about normal, there being backed up 6 to 8 months now. I would have to assume some of the local butchers will upgrade there facilities in order to keep up with demand and also make some good money and provide some more jobs too!!