Nevada County Picayune and Gurdon Times Newspaper Archive

Locals support youth at annual premium sale

A group of bidders who arent really buying anything come togther with a group of sellers who wont really be giving anything to the bidders. And its amazing how many people work hard to make this auction happen.

Its the annual Nevada County Livestock Auction. The bidders are local business people anxious only to help the youth who have worked at raising an animal. The sellers are the youth of the county who have purchased, raised and presented an animal in the livestock ring.

According to Nevada County Agent Melissa Beck, its a chance for youngsters to learn responsibility.

When my friends were in bed at 5 oclock on a Saturday morning, I was taking care of my animals, she said.

And that responsibility bleeds over to adulthood. Clint Cornelius was a 4-H member and now volunteers.

I showed animals when I was young, he said. I just wanted to help the community.

Dr. Michael Young is an active bidder. Young was among those who started the program a decade ago.

There were six kids and six buyers, he said of that first livestock auction. Our goal was to make sure every kid walked away with $100.

Young said he believes the money spent is going to a good cause.

This is an investment in the youth of Nevada County, he said.

Representative Dr. Johnnie Roebuck agrees.

I was a 4-H girl, she said. I showed my calf and Ill never forget it.

The tangible profit is - of course - cash. The youth get back at least some of the money they invested in the animal, feed, medicines and care. The intangibles are perhaps more important. Pride in a finished project, the self-confidence to show the animal in front of dozens of buyers and the responsibility of having cared for a living thing.

For more information about 4-H, contact your local school agriculture teacher or Beck at 887-2818.