As our annual Rockbridge County 4-H/FFA Livestock Show and Rockbridge County 4-H/FFA Market Animal Livestock Auction enters into its 23rd year, the Rockbridge Livestock Buyers Committee is asking for your support. The buyers committee, a sub committee of the Rockbridge County 4-H/FFA Livestock Advisory Council, was established in 2008 so that all youth would receive adequate prices for their animals sold during the Market Animal Auction.
The youths spend the fall, winter and spring months attending educational programs that teach them about livestock and the agricultural industry. The 4-H/FFA livestock program begins each year in December for the market steer projects. Then in early spring the youths purchase lamb, hog and goat market animals for their projects. Once the animal is purchased each youth is responsible for the care and raising of their animal. Then during the summer months the youth begin preparations for the show and auction, with the finale being the Rockbridge County 4-H/FFA Livestock Show.
The show is held annually during the Rockbridge County Fair at the Virginia Horse Center in Lexington, Virginia. This year the show goes from July 15-19, 2009. Over the years, hundreds of 4-H and FFA members from Rockbridge County and surrounding counties have participated in this annual tradition. In 2008, there were approximately 95 animals sold at the Rockbridge County 4-H/FFA Livestock Auction, with even more expected this year.
One way to support the sale is to make a monetary contribution to the Buyers Committee. Your contribution will be combined with other contributions to bid on youth market animal project during the auction and purchase animals. The buyers committee will purchase an animal on your behalf and your name/business name will be mentioned during the sale. Each individual or business will receive recognition for their contribution, regardless of the amount they donate. Your donation will help support youth interested in agriculture and allow this time honored tradition to continue. All money contributed to the buyers committee goes directly to the 4-H/FFA youth exhibitors.
As a contributor you will be:- Listed on the buyers committee’s web site with the option to have a hyperlink to your web page.
- Recognized the week of the fair with signs in the barns and/or show ring,
- Invited to attend both the buyers reception prior to the sale and to the Livestock Banquet in August,
- Listed in all show books and auction programs as a Buyers Committee Contributor,
- Recognized for contributions of monies more than $200 and your banner will be located in the barns and/or show ring,
- Recognized in the local paper following the fair,
- Listed in the following year’s fair books, approximately 3500 are published,
- Recognized as a contributor at the Annual Livestock Fundraiser Sporting Clays Shoot, if your donation is committed before June 1, 2009
Your contributions are made to a 501(c) (3) organization and can be eligible for a tax deduction. Thank you for your consideration in supporting the Rockbridge Livestock Buyers Committee and tomorrow’s future in agriculture.
For any information please contact Susan Showalter at 540.460.2016 or go to http://www.rockbridgelivestock.org