Each and every year the supportive community members of the Big Horn Basin come together to conclude the learning process of Park County 4-H members at the Junior Livestock Sale. 

Park County youth spend their year working on many intricate details, in order to get their projects ready for their time at the fair. 

Taking care of animals is a large responsibility, and 4-H provides many opportunities for youth to grow their knowledge. Additionally, the sale helps some of these youth get their first taste of income, based on their hard work.

So after a long year of hard work, that is why the junior livestock sale on Saturday will be such an important event. 

The sale brings in people from the surrounding areas of the Big Horn Basin, in an extremely unique way. 

“One of the neatest things is the community mindedness that comes from the sale,” President of the Sale Committee Joe Bridges said. “It’s truly a sale that can only happen when the whole county comes together to support the kids … And just to sit and watch that, or be a part of that is something special.” 

While the sale cannot continue without community involvement, a massive portion is also thanks to the junior livestock sale committee. It consists of Bridges, secretary Jennifer Triplett, treasurer Andrea Mehling, as well as many other volunteers. 

They spend lots of time each and every year to make the event a success. 

Last year the sale raised $622,584 with 254 youth. This was exactly $60,000 more than the year prior. Hogs and beef had the highest numbers of youth participants, selling at an average of $5.39 and $9.06 per pound, respectively. 

This year's sale remains the same as many past years, however a slight change will be seen within the photo backdrop. 

“The fair board was gracious enough to buy a new photo backdrop, so that will be even neater in the pictures,” Bridges said.

He said whether you're buying an animal or not, youth is the core of this event, and support is what keeps it alive. 

“Park County still supports the youth, and the future of the county year after year, regardless of what is going on,” Bridges said. 

Add-ons, which are donations to show support for the showman can be added at parkcountyjuniorlivestocksale.org , or given directly to the youth. 

The live sale will take place on Saturday, July 25 at 1 p.m. at the sale barn, at the Park County Fairgrounds.