4-H & FFA Livestock Auction

Saturday, September 13, 2025
10:00 am
Located in the Market Building

Interested in supporting local youth and agriculture?

The Junior Market Livestock Auction at the Utah State Fair is a time-honored tradition that supports young exhibitors from across Utah. Participants raise and care for their animals, hoping to win the Grand Champion prize and sell their livestock at the auction.

This event is a great opportunity for buyers to support youth in agriculture while purchasing high-quality livestock. The auction takes place in the Market Building, and pre-registered buyers receive free entrance to the fair

Buyers can register online or in the Market Building the day of the Auction—it’s quick and easy. Once registered, you'll receive a numbered bidding card.

When the animal you’re interested in comes up for sale, simply raise your card to place a bid. Buyers have a couple of great options:

• Purchase the animal to be custom processed for your personal use,
• Or “boost” the sale price of the animal. In this case, a local packer purchases the animal at market value, and you just pay the difference between your bid and the market price.

Want to help but not ready to bid? You can also make a cash donation. The Auction Committee will pool these donations to boost more animals and support more youth participants.

Not sure how it all works? No problem—a friendly Auction Committee member would be happy to handle the bidding on your behalf.

Come be part of something meaningful and help us grow this great program!

Animals will be sold on a per head basis. The base price for each animal will be noted on the sale order, which is available the day of the Auction.

Payment must be received on all animals before being released to private individuals or packers, unless prior arrangements have been made with Fairpark management.

Buyers are required to make immediate payment upon receipt of State Fair invoice. Interest of 1.5% will be charged monthly on any amounts owing 30 days after date of the first invoice. The Utah State Fair reserves the right to refuse bids from, or sales to, any buyer.

The Jr Livestock Show Committee, auctioneer, and staff of Utah State Fair accept no liability for injury or death of sale animals. Animals are the responsibility of the exhibitor until the packer or individual buyer accepts ownership.

When an animal is declared as sold to the packer or the buyer in the sale ring, it becomes the property of the packer or buyer. Any changes must be done by private treaty with the packer or buyer and not involve the State Fair.

All sales are final. There will be no re-sale of animals.

Exhibitors may not be paid until payment has been received from the buyer.

In the event of a tie or dispute, the auctioneer’s decision will be final. All bids are to be made by bona fide bidders or by acceptance.

Booster or add-on bids on the Grand or Reserve Grand Champions after the original purchase has been made, will not be recognized from the podium or in print materials. Boosts will not be accepted on non-sale animals.

• Entries are open only to 4-H and FFA members of Utah. All animals must first be entered into the Jr. Department to qualify. All animals must have been tagged according to the State Jr. Livestock Shows Association guidelines.
• Exhibitors are limited to one animal total in the sale. Exhibitors must submit a properly completed Declaration Form to the Livestock Office no later than 7:00 p.m. on Thursday, September 14 declaring their intent for the animal they showed. Champions and Reserve Champions must sell. Failure to submit a Declaration Form will result in the exhibitor's animal not being included on the sale order and they will no longer be eligible for the auction. No-shows at the auction will forfeit their premium money.
• Animals, which are not eligible for the auction for any reason, are the responsibility of the exhibitor and will be released during normal release times beginning at 9:00 p.m. the evening of the judging date.
• Sifted animals will be released during or immediately after weigh-in. However, animals not sifted for health reasons may remain at the Fairpark to be used for Showmanship if the exhibitor chooses.
• Exhibitors are required to return sale animals back to their own stall or pen after the sale, unless otherwise directed by a member of the show committee. Exhibitors are responsible for feeding, watering and other care of the animals until animals are accepted by the packer. A penalty of $50 will be deducted from the auction checks of exhibitors failing to comply with this rule!
• When an animal is designated sold to a packer in the sale ring, it becomes property of the packer. Any changes must be done by private treaty with the packer and not involve the Fair. Packers have the right to refuse a sick or injured animal at the time of loading and ownership of the animal reverts to the exhibitor.
• A sales fee of 5% of the total selling price will be charged by the auction committee for each animal sold. The fee will be withheld from the money collected from the buyer and will be noted in the settlement with the exhibitor.
• Owners of Grand and Reserve animals may be required to help with the auction, as runners, immediately after selling their animal.
• Exhibitors must show and sell their own animal or premium and / or sale money will be withheld.
• Exhibitors must adhere to the dress code when selling their animal or a $50 penalty will be withheld from the auction check.
• Animals will be sold on a per head basis. The base price for each animal will be noted on the sale order. Maximum pay weights will be in effect as follows: Steers-1,400 lbs / Lambs-150 lbs / Hogs-290 lbs / Goats-100 lbs Show weights will be adjusted as needed on the sale order. Any amount over these limits will not be calculated into the animals’ base price reflected on the sale order sheets.
• Grand and Reserve of each species will sell first in the following order: Goats, Hogs, Steers & Lambs. Followed by a pre-determined number of each species in the same order.
• Exhibitors missing their turn in the sale order will not be allowed to sell.