By Connie Gerow, 4-H Program Assistant

Yes… the Franklin County 4-H Livestock programs will be hosting a 4-H Consignment Auction on Saturday, May 31st at the Franklin County Fairgrounds to benefit their programs. The Greater Malone and Area Communities are urged to come out and support the 4-H programs with a non-animal / animal consignment or a donated item for this auction. Please note all animal consignments must adhere to NYS Animal Health Requirements. A Certificate of Veterinary inspection must be completed within ten days of the sale and must accompany the animal indicating that your species has received the necessary vaccinations and qualifies for this sale.

The consignment auction is scheduled to be held in conjunction with the daylong planned 4-H Dairy Showmanship Clinic. The clinic will be starting at 9am with a showmanship starting at 4pm. An annual event, the 4-H Clinic aims to provide 4-H Youth with engaging opportunities throughout the day. The youth will receive instructions on what to do with their calves at home before they come to the show; how to wash and clip their project animals; what to do with the care of their animal upon the arrival to a fair and during the exhibition. The younger dairy members will be given ample time to lead their calves; whereas the older 4-H Dairy Members will be honing their clipping skills with local professional fitters, and developing their “Show-Savvy” techniques.

On the days leading up to the Consignment Auction, community members may come to the Commercial Building at the Fairgrounds with their item to be consigned on any of the following days: Wednesday, May 28th from 5pm-9pm, Thursday, May 29th from 12pm to 5pm, and Friday, May 30th from 2pm to 8pm. Community members are urged to provide “quality” goods that will encourage the spirit of friendly bartering. As this auction is a benefit to support the 4-H Livestock program, commissions will be based upon the following sales: $1 to $100 – 25%; $101 - $500 – 10%; and $501 and above – 8% commission. The auction is scheduled to start at 6pm and will be auctioned by the auctioneers Delarm and Treadway.

For more information about this program and other Franklin County Cornell Cooperative Extension programs on may call Connie Gerow @ 518-358-4271 or 483-7403.