Fair’s Annual Junior Livestock Auction Raises More Than $400,000 For 4H and FFA Programs

NOTE TO NEWS MEDIA — The Fair has uploaded a video for your use with interviews of the Grand Champions and their buyers at this YouTube link:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=60RgMFjvfDY&feature=youtu.be

*******************************************************

DEL MAR, CA — The 2012 San Diego County Fair, presented by Albertsons/Sav-on held its annual Junior Livestock Auction Saturday, June 30, 2012.

A total of 432 animals were auctioned throughout the day, raising more than $400,000. Participants were youth members of 4-H and FFA programs in San Diego County. These programs offer curriculum rich in science, animal husbandry, business and marketing skills. The money raised from auctioning their animal projects helps fund future projects and college education.

Only animals awarded a blue ribbon were eligible for the auction. In each species, a Grand Champion and Reserve Grand Champion award was given. These animals have been deemed "the best of the best" by the judges.

Market Swine
Grand Champion — Chandler Hall, Mission Trails 4H; Buyer: Farmer John
Reserve Grand Champion — Shelby Meyer, El Capitan FFA; Buyer: BA Show Pigs

Market Goat
Grand Champion — Grace Martineau, Valley Center 4H; Buyer: Mitchell Livestock
Reserve Grand Champion — Natalee Johnson, Poway FFA; A-1 Irrigation/Jack Bose

Market Rabbit
Grand Champion — Carney Flinn, Ramona Wranglers 4H; Buyer: San Diego County Fair Livestock Office
Reserve Grand Champion — Katie Flinn, Ramona Wranglers 4H; Buyer: Doug & Dolly Mitchell

Market Chicken
Grand Champion — Noah Barnes, Escondido FFA; Buyer: Armstrong Feed & Supply
Reserve Grand Champion — Kylie Konyn, 56 Ranchers 4H; Buyer: Shuster Oil

Market Turkey
Grand Champion — Savanna Powell, Homesteaders 4H; Buyer: Paige & Wesley Palcic
Reserve Grand Champion — Gabriel Parsley, Homesteaders 4H; Buyer: Southern Contracting

Market Grain-Fed Veal
Grand Champion — RaeAnne VanTol, Ramona Paisanos 4H; Buyer: James Despenza
Reserve Grand Champion — Kaylin VanTol, Ramona Paisanos 4H; Buyer: Ultra-Cal

Market Lamb
Grand Champion — Jessica Theisman, Escondido FFA; Buyer: Albertsons/Sav-on
Reserve Grand Champion — Morganne Kenney, Fallbrook 4H; Buyer: JPI Development

Market Beef
Grand Champion — Paul Calac, Valley Center FFA; Delisle & Lois Calac
Reserve Grand Champion — Eli Martineau, Valley Center 4H; Buyer: Calac Plastering & Kadie Calac

The summer of 2012 is taking San Diego County Fair fans "Out Of This World" to the stars, planets and beyond. Every day at the Fair is filled with discovery and mystery of the outer limits. The Fair will explore man's history and fascination with space and space travel starting with the ancient astronomers, to the NASA program and the future of space exploration.

The 2012 San Diego County Fair is open every day, now through Wednesday, July 4. Gates open at 10 a.m. on the Fair's final day. Admission is $13 for adults; $7 for ages 6-12 and 62 and older; free for ages 5 and younger.

For more information about the fair go to the Fair website, www.sdfair.com. Facebook fans will find the Fair at www.facebook.com/sdfair. Twitter fans can get updates and special offers at twitter.com/sdfair and those on the go can use the Fairgrounds mobile phone website at m.sdfair.com.

The San Diego County Fair is the largest annual event in San Diego County and the sixth largest fair in the United States, drawing more than 1.4 million visitors annually. The 2011 Fair broke an all-time attendance record for the third year in a row with a grand total of 1,412,113 guests.

The 22nd District Agricultural Association is a State of California agency that owns and operates the Del Mar Fairgrounds, Surfside Race Place, Horsepark Equestrian Center and the Del Mar Golf Center. The 22nd DAA produces five events each year: The San Diego County Fair, the Del Mar National Horse Show, Professional Bull Riding (PBR), The Scream Zone and Holiday of Lights. The Fairgrounds hosts more than 350 events annually, the largest of which is the live horse racing meet each summer, which is operated by the Del Mar Thoroughbred Club for the 22nd DAA and the State of California. For more information on the Fairgrounds, visit www.delmarfairgrounds.com.