By Carrie Muehling
BLOOMINGTON – This year’s McLean County Fair will include a 4-H livestock sale for the first time in more than 20 years.
“A lot of us that grew up in the county fair remember the old Sale of Champions, which really only benefitted a few exhibitors to help them with their projects and help them with their plans for the future,” said Marty Ropp, who is part of the McLean County Youth Ag Livestock Support Group.
“A group of us has been talking about it for a couple of years with the extra expenses and all that is involved with particularly large animal projects for the fair.
“Could we come up with some sponsorship opportunities and some support from local businesses and families and things like that like happens in so many other counties? Could we do something like that in McLean County? We think we can and we’ve decided to do it this year.”
Ropp said more than 100 exhibitors of market animals will have an opportunity to be involved versus the previous sale that included just a few exhbitors.
The group hopes to raise enough money through sponsorships to ensure that every young person participating in the sale will benefit. Sponsorship opportunities are still available and the group is looking for help in a number of areas.
“We know that if we don’t come up with some support and options for young people, these projects are getting expensive enough that fewer families will be able to participate,” said Ropp. “We know the youth development benefits that come from these types of projects.”
The event is Aug. 8 during the McLean County Fair with a buyer’s lunch at 11:30 a.m., and the sale beginning at 12:30 p.m. at the McLean County Fairgrounds.
Carrie Muehling can be reached at carrie@wjbc.com.
