Once upon a time, in California’s era of vast ranchos covered by huge herds of cattle and barnyards full of hogs and dairy goats, caring for the livestock was a necessary part of life.

Now, as developers have turned the historic ranches into tract homes, the future of animal husbandry in Orange County is continued by supporters of the Orange County Fair Junior Livestock program at the Orange County Fair.

They buy animals raised by 4-H Club and Future Farmers of America members at the annual Junior Livestock Auction, hoping that their efforts will make it possible to continue the clubs’ animal tradition.

Some bidders spend liberally. Ted and Robin Eccles of Los Angeles bought several animals for a total of $6,217. The top purchaser was the Sonora FFA Agriculture Foundation, which paid $8,438 for the animals it bought.

Some other high bidders included: Peggy Richardson, $3,016; All Steel, $3,711; Rik and Marcia Matthews, $5,264; Rotary Club of Orange, $2,900; and the Gyulay Family, $1,907.

A new program now makes it possible for livestock program supporters of limited means to use “Add-Ons” to help in saving animal husbandry in Orange County for future generations. An “Add-On” is a donation that is added to the auction sale price of an animal that the giver designates. Any amount of money can be donated as an Add-On.

The Triple H Fund of the Centennial Farm Foundation donated $10,275 in “Add-Ons” at the 2003 auction, but there also were two Add-On donations of $10 each and another two at $20.

If you want to support the youths who raise the animals but don’t want to buy an animal, an Add-On contribution is the way to go. Some supporters may feel that the winning bid was not high enough, and they will donate through the Add-On program to supplement the price.

Why go to all this trouble to keep the Junior Livestock Auction part of the Fair? “It’s a good tradition to preserve,” said Jim Bailey, the Fair’s livestock superintendent. “And at auction, prices paid to 4-H and FFA usually are higher than market.”

There are many benefits that youths acquire in the livestock program, such as learning responsibility, public speaking, time management and good business practices.

The 2003 auction showed significant growth over last year’s event, recording increases in the amount of money paid for animals and the number of animals sold. Even with market broilers and turkeys excluded from the auction this year because of measures taken to prevent the spread of Exotic Newcastle Disease, total receipts reached $196,451, compared with last year’s $151,546.

Average prices paid by buyers varied. The average price paid for sheep this year it was $2.46.

Other prices per pound were:

• Market calves—$3.58 in 2003, and $3.50 in 2002.
• Beef—$1.33 in 2003, and $1.36 in 2002.
• Swine—$2.10 in 2003, and $2.11 in 2002.
• Market goats—$4.65 in 2003, and $6.41 in 2002.
• Market rabbit pen-One sold for $650 in 2003, and two sold for $1,100 in 2002.

Auctioneers found buyers for 292 animals this year, compared with 271 sold last year. There were 239 buyers and contributors to purchases this year.