BENTONVILLE -- Once again, the junior livestock premium auction held at the Benton County Fair was a huge success for area youth gaining knowledge and experience in agriculture, and temperatures in the livestock barn were cooler with the fair dates moved back into the fall instead of in mid-August.
After a year with an online auction only, this year's auction was held at the Benton County fairgrounds (in a bigger space) and online; and $89,800 was raised in the Oct. 2 premium auction to help the 114 Benton County youth with their livestock projects. Additional dollars were still coming in, with other businesses and individuals adding to the bid amounts.
Bids ranged in the hundreds and sometimes thousands of dollars to support the livestock projects and make it possible for members of 4-H clubs, FFA, and other agriculture organizations to learn about raising cattle, hogs, sheep and goats. And unlike some fair auctions, the young farmers were allowed to keep their animals and use the money to recoup expenses or to start all over again and raise another animal for next year's fair.
