Livestock Auctions

Frequent Questions

Forms and Documents

We are happy to inform you that the 2010 Ottawa County Fair will continue to pay its portion of the premium money for Open and Youth entries despite the funding cuts by the State of Michigan. To compensate for the State’s elimination of the 2010 fair premiums, the Ottawa County Fair will pay 50% of the published premium total. Also, entries will still receive ribbons, rosettes and traditional bragging rights.

If you have any questions, please contact Earl Welling OCF Fair/Site Manager at 616 399-4509

The 4-H clubs of Ottawa County that show at the Ottawa County Fair:

• All Star 4H club
• Country View 4H club
• Just for Fun club
• Valley View 4H club
• Frisky Friends 4H club
• Bell 4H club
• Blendon 4H club
• Drenthe 4H club
• Hilltop Gang 4H club
• Pigeon Creek 4H club

We would like to invite you to the Ottawa County 4-H Livestock Auction on Wednesday, July 28. Dinner begins at 5 PM, with the auction beginning at 6:00 PM. The sale order will be Hogs, Lambs, Market Goats, Steers, and Dairy Feeders.

Please look through the buyers letters you receive. They are very informative and tell a lot about the members' projects and their dedication to the 4H experience.

If you have any questions, please call any one of the following members of the Holland Livestock Committee:

• Pat and Linda Mitchell - (616) 875-7494
• Margie Morren - (269) 751-2546
• Wayne and Gerry Burns - (616) 842-1465
• Randy and Cheryl Holstege - (616) 875-8585
• Rick and Dawn Clapp - (616) 875-2114

At its June 8, 2009 Meeting, The Ottawa County Fair Board of Directors announced that the following classes will be eliminated in 2009 due to Gov. Granholm’s Executive Order to eliminate all 2009 Premiums -

• Open Class Exhibits: Dept 1 - Dairy Cattle - All Divisions
• Open Class Exhibits: Dept 2 - Beef Cattle - All Divisions
• Open Class Exhibits: Dept 5 - Under Draft Horses - Division E ONLY, Mini-Mule Pulling

All other Open Classes and 4H Classes will be displayed and premiums will be paid plus ribbons, and rosettes will be awarded.

4H Auction Schedule

Monday, July 26

• 1:00PM 4H Lamb Show followed by the 4H Market Goat Show - Show Ring
• 4:00PM 4H Hog Show - Show Ring

Tuesday, July 27

• 8:30AM 4H Dairy Show - Show Ring
• 8:30AM Rabbit Judging - Behind Poultry Barn
• 2:00PM Poultry Judging - Behind Poultry Barn
• 4:00PM Feeder Calf Show - Show Ring

  Followed by: 4H Beef Show - Show Ring

Wednesday, July 28

• 8:00AM Horse Show - East Parking Lot
• 10:00AM Cat Show - Show Ring
• 11:00AM Ottawa Area Center Horse Show - East Parking Lot
• 12:30PM 4H Style & Talent Show
• 6:00PM 4H Livestock Auction

Thursday, July 29

• 8:30PM Dog Show - Dog Park

Friday, July 30

• 8:00AM Goat & Donkey Show - Show Ring
• 7:00PM Super Showmanship - Show Ring

4H Questions and Answers

WHAT IS THE 4-H LIVESTOCK AUCTION?

The 4-H livestock auction is the culmination of a long project year for many 4-H members. At the auction, they have the opportunity to sell their animals and learn first hand how the marketing process works. It is an educational project that begins with the selection of an animal many months before and continues until the animal is shipped to the slaughter house for you at the end of the fair, or you take home a dairy feeder calf to raise for slaughter later.

WHY SHOULD I PURCHASE AN ANIMAL FROM THE 4-H LIVESTOCK AUCTION?

You will receive personal satisfaction through: 1). Helping to promote 4-H youth "learn by doing" programs. 2). Obtaining high quality meat for your freezer or locker. 3). Free advertising you will receive as a buyer, both in various news papers and the 4-H showbook.

WHAT TYPES OF ANIMALS WILL BE SOLD?

Steers, sheep, swine, and dairy beef feeders.

AS A POTENTIAL BUYER, SHOULD I PLAN TO ARRIVE EARLY?

It is a good idea to arrive early enough to view the sale animals and/or talk to the 4-H members/owners (Livestock auction booklets are available at the clerk's table). A signup sheet will be in the show area so that you can obtain a buyers number.

CAN MORE THAN ONE PERSON PURCHASE THE SAME ANIMAL?

Yes, but make sure you provide all names, addresses and phone numbers to the clerk.

SO, I'VE BOUGHT AN ANIMAL, NOW WHAT?

You will be asked to sign a bill of sale and indicate the following: 1). Indicate whether you would like the animal processed for your personal use, resold at a stockyard or donated to charity. 2). Indicate your choice of processor or livestock yard. 3). Indicate method of payment. You can either pay at the auction or be billed later.

WHO WILL HANDLE MY PAYMENT AND/OR BILLING QUESTIONS?

Macatawa Bank will be clerking the sale. The bank will send you a bill following the sale, or you may pay that evening by check only.

HOW DO I TRANSPORT THE ANIMAL TO THE PROCESSING PLANT OR LIVESTOCK YARD?

4-H coordinates free trucking on the Saturday morning after the livestock auction for the animals being processed or resold. Feeder calves may be picked up by the buyer on Saturday.

IF I DECIDE TO HAVE MY ANIMAL PROCESSED, WHAT DO I NEED TO DO?

Indicate on the bill of sale your processing choice. Contact the processor Monday morning following the auction sale to inform them of the number and species of the animals you are having processed at their plant, with instructions on types of cuts, thickness, packaging materials,etc. that you desire. Make arrangements to pick up your packaged meat from the processor

CAN I BUY AN ANIMAL AND NOT KEEP IT?

YES, you have two options: 1.)You can market your animal. This means reselling it to another buyer.Trucking and reselling will be handled for you. You will receive a check in the mail from the second buyer, less any marketing fee. 2.) You can donate your animal back to 4-H. If you chooseto do this, indicate your decision to the auctioneer or the ring personel at the time your final bid is taken. You should then check with the clerk to finalize payment.

WHAT IS THE LIVE WEIGHT VS. HANGING WEIGHT, AND WHAT KIND OF YEILD CAN I EXPECT?

Live weight is the weight of the animal before killing it. The hanging weight or carcass weight is the weight of the slaughtered animal as it hangs from the rail. At this state, the hide and viscera have been removed. The animal is then taken down and cut into saleable meat. The following are samples of average yields. ** A 1,200 lb. steer = 720 lb. carcass=575 lbs. saleable meat. **A 230 lb. hog =172 lb. carcass=138 lbs. saleable meat.