Most people wouldn’t think of making a bid at an auction knowing they’ll likely get nothing for their money.
But that’s what over 100 bidders were told Saturday morning just before the start of the Bartholomew County 4-H Livestock Sale.
“Your bid is to support the 4-H kids,” auctioneer Mike Mensendiek said. “The animal will still belong to the child.”
Many county fairs have banned animals that have consumed ractopamine, the active ingredient in feed additives like Paylean or Optaflexx, according to a Jan. 2, 2021 article published on the Meat+Poultry website.
Although the additive has been used in feeding commercial and show pigs for decades in the U.S., packers and export markets have been asking for ractopamine-free pork to comply with a ban from China and other countries, the online article stated. The ban has grown in importance because the African Swine Fever is expected to increase the demand for American pork products.
With huge export potential for U.S. pork, the commercial hog industry has been quick to phase out of ractopamine use, and packers do not want to jeopardize international marketing opportunities because of 4-H pigs, according to the website article.
“Our stockyards were hesitant to take 4-H pigs and we saw a definite shift to people wanting their 4-H animal to go to a butcher for meat,” livestock auction committee member Becky Speaker said.
But on Saturday, buyers were also told they would be allowed to try to work with the 4-H exhibitor to purchase the animal for personal use processing, Speaker said.
After the announcement was made, a number of bidders said they weren’t bothered because they bid solely to support the 4-H program.
Tony Bozell, CEO of Tallman Equipment Company Inc. of Columbus, says he admires the program for teaching its young members about succeeding in the real world.
“What the kids learn is getting up, going to work, understanding their costs, and the need to make a profit,” Bozell said. “Whether it’s hot or cold, these kids are working and learning consistently. This is much more important about building character and creating good Americans than anything else that happens.”
For more on this story, see Sunday’s Republic.
