Organizers of the Warren County youth livestock auction said they’re happy with how the events turned out this year, considering the changes that were made to account for COVID-19.

“We thought it went fantastic. We got a lot of support from buyers, just like we typically do,” said co-coordinator Steve Molitor. “All the animals went for more than market value, which is as much as we could have expected. Given the situation, we didn’t know what to expect.”

The livestock auction, normally a large public event to cap off a week of livestock shows at the county fair, was moved to an online format this year. The auction brought in just under $185,000 for the young 4-H and FFA exhibitors.

The total receipts from the auction are lower than years past, but organizers said there were also fewer participants in the livestock shows and auction this year. About 140 exhibitors sold animals in this year’s auction.

Almost 160 exhibitor sold animals at the 2019 livestock auction, bringing in $274,500.

Some of the exhibitors this year didn’t participate in the auction, Molitor said, because they had already pre-sold their animals believing the shows and auction would be canceled.

The highest grossing animals in each auction category were the steer shown by Ashley Pullen, which received a $4,000 bid; the goat of Dana Sherman, which sold for $1,200; the chicken presented by Kayla Colbert, which was bought for $550; Blake Gerland’s market rabbit, which took in $800; a sheep shown by Trenton Edwards, which received a $1,500 bid; and a tie for two highest grossing hogs, shown by Kylie Jordan and Ava Schneider, which each sold for $3,000.

This year’s auction was hosted online by J. J. Kane Auctioneers over a week, ending with live online bidding on July 2.

However, after receiving concerns that some buyers either had poor internet or weren’t comfortable using the online system, organizers also put together an impromptu, in-person “watch party.” Live auctioneers called the bids for buyers who came to the fairgrounds pavilion in person, with assistants to input spectators’ bids into the online auction.

“We really appreciate everything (the auctioneers) did, that’s for sure. They did a great job,” Molitor commented.

“They thought it would be a great idea to get interaction from people who were willing to come up, and ultimately help out the kids,” he added, indicating that higher bids tend to come in person compared to online.

With the switch to the online auction, Molitor said there were hurdles to overcome both before and after the event.

Exhibitors needed to submit photos of all the animals to be sold and biographic information for themselves ahead of time. After the auction, organizers had to follow up with all the buyers to find out how they wanted their animals handled.

“When we do it live, the buyers are there, we’re able to collect money and determine the destination for their animal to be processed,” Molitor said. Instead, organizers had to contact the buyers via email and phone to arrange for animals to be dropped off at the correct meat processor.

Molitor said there could be a place for an online component to the livestock auction in future years, but that an in-person event will always be the preference.

“I think the live auction is very important to get the interaction between the kids and the buyers. They really enjoy that,” Molitor said.