UPDATE (posted at 7:31 p.m. July 6) – The correct website to access the the Madison County Junior Fair’s online livestock auction is www.bwfinaldrive.com. The website has been updated in the story below.
(Posted July 6, 2020)
By Kristy Zurbrick, Madison Editor
In light of COVID-19 restrictions, the Madison County Junior Fair Livestock Sale Committee is trying something new.
Instead of the traditional live auction that caps off fair week, they are going with an online auction that will run from 9 a.m. July 18 through 6 p.m. July 19. Breeders World, an online livestock auction house, is handling the sale.
“The people at Breeders World have been good partners. They’ve really stepped up to help out county fairs during this time. I think they saw it early on and really made an effort,” said Darrell Champer, Madison County Agricultural Society (senior fair board) president.
The sales committee is busy gathering photos of all of the Junior Fair exhibitors who are exhibiting livestock and plan to participate in the sale. The photos will be uploaded with information to the Breeders World website.
Anyone interested in placing bids can register at www.bwfinaldrive.com. Look for the “Login/Register” button in the top right corner of the home page. Madison County’s sale is listed under “Upcoming Youth Auctions.” Access will be available starting fair week.
The sale order will be as follows: Winners Circle, goats, sheep, poultry, rabbits, market beef, dairy cheese trays, and swine. Bidders can search by animal or by a specific youth’s name.
Each sale will feature a “racehorse closing” which means that if bids are still coming in at the posted closing time, the bidding window will be extended until activity stops.
“It gives that live auction, competitive feel,” Champer said.
The set-up also accommodates boosts–money added to an exhibitor’s take after bidding closes. The system will be open for boosts and add-ons through 6 p.m. July 24.
“This way, someone who didn’t win a bid can still support that exhibitor,” said Kelly Sifrit, livestock sale committee treasurer.
The committee sent out 700 cards to previous livestock auction supporters, outlining the online bidding process and inviting them to take part.
“This was our best option for this year, and we hope everything goes back to normal next year and we can have a live sale,” Sifrit said.
For more information about this year’s online livestock auction, send questions to madisoncountysalescommittee@gmail.com or call the Senior Fair Board Office at (740) 852-1654.
