Auction Rules

COLUMBIA COUNTY YOUTH LIVESTOCK AUCTION RULES FOR 2026

4-H and FFA members of Columbia County will be able to sell their project market animals at an auction to be held during the Columbia County Fair. All members must be properly enrolled in a market project within their respective organizations. We are very fortunate to have the Columbia County Friends of Fair as the sponsor for the auction. Additional information is available from your 4-H Agent, Leader, or FFA Instructor.

The Final Weigh Date for the 2026 Fair Season is Monday, July 13th, beginning at noon. All participants should make every effort to weigh during their assigned time. The final weigh-in order is as follows:

• Beef - Noon to 1 
• Lambs - 1 to 2
• Goats - 2 to 2:30
• Turkeys - 2:30 to 3
• BREAK 3 to 3:30
• Swine - 3:30 to 5:30
• BREAK 5:30 to 6
• Reweighs and late weighs - 6 to 8
• Rabbits and Market Chickens - Final Weigh In - 4 to 5 in the Small Animal Barn. 
• The Auction is on Saturday, July 18, 2026 at 1pm. 

GENERAL RULES

• 1. All auction market animals must be weighed in at the designated times for that species of livestock. They must also meet 4-H and/or FFA rules to be considered for the sale.
• 2. Ownership of the animal shall be established at the first weigh-in, in the name entered. No club or chapter will be allowed to sell market animals at the auction.
• 3. All animals entered for the auction will be graded and sold in auction line up. Auction line up will be by lottery.
• 4. All Auction animals must receive a blue or red ribbon in their conformationclass. White ribbon animals are not eligible for the auction. The ribbon award by the conformation judge is final.
• 5. Youth must weigh-in their own animal at all official weigh-ins unless prior written request is made of the Auction Committee is made within 24 hours. Requests made further in advance than 24 hours are appreciated by the Committee. In case of emergency, an animal will be weighed-in and the owner must apply in writing to the auction committee for approval of the entry.
• 6. Families with two or more members raising the same species of largeanimal (Beef, Sheep, Swine, Goat) together may weigh in one back up animal under the family name. This animal may only be used if the member’s designated animal does not meet Youth Livestock Auction sale requirements. Each family member must designate a project animal under their own name. This rule applies ONLY to all large animals including Beef, Sheep, Swine, and Goat. 
• 7. Each sale participant will be allowed to sell two animals, but they must be different species; any combination of large and small animals (Examples: a turkey and a swine, a pen of fryers and a pen of rabbits, a goat and a lamb, a swine and a goat, etc.). For rabbits and poultry, one pen of 3 fryers will be accepted as one animal. Each participant will only be allowed to weigh in twice the amount of animals they are eligible to auction. Large animals include beef, swine, goat, and sheep. Small animals include rabbits, poultry, and turkey.
• 8. Auction participants must have met all of the fair regulations/requirements for the organization that they are exhibiting under in order to participate in the auction. For example, they must compete in a showmanship and market class using their own animal. USDA requirements for withdrawal of feed additives shall be followed.
• 9. All market steers, hogs, lambs, and goats must be taken off pasture. They must be fed grain and hay from the first to the final weigh-in. All animals must be pulled off all medicated feed 30 days prior to sale and adhere to all medication withdrawals as set by the manufacturer.
• 10. No un-castrated or stag animals will be allowed to be sold at the auction, as determined by the Market Grader and/or the Auction Committee, with the exception of rabbits and poultry.
• 11. The Auction Committee may inspect all animals sometime between first weigh-in and auction.
• 12. All exhibitors will dress for auction, as they should appear in Showmanship Classes.
• 13. All bidding will be on a per pound basis.
• 14. Four percent of the gross sale price will be withheld for sale expenses. Sales that are settled via online payment will include a 3% processing fee. 
• 15. Market animals that do not meet the weight and rate of gain requirements will not be sold! Rate of gain will be calculated from first to final weigh–in.
• 16. All resale animals will be loaded at the designated time following the auction.
• 17. Checks will be mailed to all sellers by the Auction Committee within 60 days of the auction date. Sellers must provide a thank you note to the buyer and show proof that thank you has been sent prior to receiving the check.
• 18. To be sold, all animals must be manageable and under control at the final weigh-in, in the classes and during market line-up, and handled by the seller. This rule will be enforced by the Auction Committee &/or Judges. This is for safety purposes.
• 19. The animal sold is the responsibility of the seller until time of slaughter. If the animal is condemned in the slaughter process, it is the seller's responsibility to absorb the loss.
• 20. The Seller must be present at the sale ring to sell their animal.
• 21. Sellers shall come to the sale ring dressed in show clothes. No notes will be shared with the Auctioneer unless requested by the Auction Committee, such as those for seniors. Sellers will not throw any items from the sale ring or interact in any manner that may cause confusion for the Auctioneer or the sale. 
• 22. Rate of Gain for Market animals are: Steers (Beef & Dairy) 2 pounds per day, Swine 1.25* pounds per day, Lambs .45 pounds per day: Goats .25 pounds per day.
• 23. All age requirements are calculated from birth or hatch to final weigh day. Final weigh day is the Monday of  Fair week.
• 24. Reweighs MAY be allowed at the discretion of the Weighmaster. All reweighs must be completed during the same weigh period on the same weigh date as the original weight.
• 25. All auction animals will be tagged or tattooed at first weigh-in. If a tag or tattoo is removed, damaged, or lost, the Auction Committee needs to be notified immediately. If tag or tattoo is not present at final weigh-in, the animal will not be eligible for auction.
• 26. Clubs with members wishing to sell at the Auction must have a representative at two Auction Committee meetings during the year. The meeting attendance requirement may be waived when a club or clubs signs up to head a subcommittee during the fair to help the officers coordinate their duties up to, and during fair.

Initial Weigh Date   Saturday February 14, from 8am to 10am. 

• 1. Steers must weigh a minimum of 1000 pounds at the final weigh-in, have a 2-pound rate of gain, and grade good or better to sell. 
• 2. The Auction Committee will continue to gather feedback on Mini Steers. Mini Steers must weigh a minimum of 650 pounds at the final weigh-in, be no taller than a 48” hip height, and have a 1.25-pound rate of gain, and grade good or better to sell. 
• 3. All market steers must be taken off of pasture. They must be grain and hay fed from the first to the final weigh-in.
• 4. All animals must be pulled off all medicated feed 30 days prior to sale and adhere to all medication withdrawals as set by the manufacturer. 
• 5. No un-castrated or stag animals will be allowed to be sold at the auction, as determined by the Market Grader and/or the Auction Committee. 
• 6. Beef steers must not be more than 2 years old at time of final weigh-ins. 
• 7. Only dehorned or polled cattle will be admitted. Tipped horns are not allowed. Steers not complying will be removed from the competition. 
• 8. Brand inspection will be enforced according to law in effect at show time. Evidence of ownership must accompany each exhibit at final weigh-in time. Example: transportation slip & E-slip

Tagging Day    Saturday and Sunday, May 16th from 8am to 11am and May 17th from 8am to 11am at the Fairgrounds 

• 1. Market hogs at the final weigh-in must weigh between 230 and 300 pounds; have a 1.25* pound rate of gain and grade U.S. No.1 or No.2 to sell. Market hogs that weigh between 301-315 at the final weigh in may be considered for sale; if they are allowed to sell at the Auction, the animal will sell at the max weight of 300 and not at its final weight. 
• 2. All market hogs must be taken off of pasture. They must be grain fed from the first to the final weigh-in. All animals must be pulled off all medicated feed 30 days prior to sale and adhere to all medication withdrawals as set by the manufacturer. 
• 3. No uncastrated or stag animals will be allowed to be sold at the auction, as determined by the Market Grader and/or the Auction Committee. 
• 4. Market hogs will be born after December 1st, 2025.

Tagging Day    May 16th from 8am to 11am and May 17th from 8am to 11am at the Fairgrounds.

• 1. Lambs must be born after January 1 of the current year. 
• 2. Lambs at the final weigh-in must weigh between 105 and 160 pounds; have a .45 pound rate of gain and grade choice or better to sell. Lambs that weigh between 161-168 pounds at final weigh in may be considered for sale; if they are allowed to sell at the Auction, the animal will sell at the max weight of 160 pounds at not at its final weight.
• 3. No uncastrated or stag animals will be allowed to be sold at the auction, as determined by the Market Grader and/or the Auction Committee. 
• 4. All market lambs must be taken off of pasture. They must be grain and hay fed from the first to the final weigh-in. All animals must be pulled off all medicated feed 30 days prior to sale and adhere to all medication withdrawals as set by the manufacturer.
• 5. All lambs must have ear tags in accordance with current state and federal regulations. 
• 6. All Lambs must be slick shorn to 1/4” and be dry at final weigh in.

Tagging Day    May 16th from 8am to 11am and May 17th from 8am to 11am at the Fairgrounds.

• 1. All goats must be born after November 1st of the previous year.
• 2. Goats at the final weigh-in must weigh a minimum of 60 pounds; have a .25 pound rate of gain and grade choice or better to sell. 
• 3. No uncastrated or stag animals will be allowed to be sold at the auction, as determined by the Market Grader and/or the Auction Committee. 
• 4. All market goats must be taken off of pasture. They must be grain and hay fed from the first to the final weigh-in. All animals must be pulled off all medicated feed 30 days prior to sale and adhere to all medication withdrawals as set by the manufacturer. 
• 5. Animals may have horns, but must be well controlled. 
• 6. No pygmy goats or pygmy cross goats.
• 7. All goats must have ear tags in accordance with current state and federal regulations.

Tagging Day   May 16th from 8am to 11am and May 17th from 8am to 11am at the Fairgrounds Hens and Toms must be born after March 1st, and weigh between 14-35 pounds. 

Tagging Day    Saturday, June 20, 2026 8-11am at the Fairgrounds

• 1. Rabbit fryer weights will mirror 4-H requirements as stated in the Fair Book and not be over 70 days old at final weigh in. 
• 2. Animals must be grade A to sell.

Tagging Day     Saturday, June 20, 2026 8-11am at the Fairgrounds 

• 1. Market Fryers must weigh between 4 and 6 pounds and not be over 12 weeks old. 
• 2. Animals must be grade A to sell.

 Direct all questions or concerns to ccffylaquestions@gmail.com

Auction Committee Office Hours at Fair are:

Tuesday and Wednesday of Fair Week

9am to 11am

Thursday and Friday of Fair Week  

9am to 11am

1 pm to 3pm