What the Livestock Auction Is
The Hancock County Junior Fair Livestock Auction is where Hancock County 4-H and FFA exhibitors sell the animals they showed at the junior fair. The 2026 sale ran September 6 (Gallon of Milk) and Monday, September 7, the final Monday of the fair, at the Hancock County Fairgrounds in Findlay. The auctioneers and ring men volunteer their time.
Order of Sale
The sale runs from a gallon of milk through rabbits, poultry, goats, lambs, feeders, steers and hogs. On September 7, rabbits, chickens, market goats, market lambs and hogs were listed. Sale categories are color-coded in the program: Gallon of Milk (white), Rabbits (ivory), Poultry (orange), Goats (purple), Lambs (yellow), Feeders (blue), Steers (green) and Hogs (pink). The 2026 auctioneers were Matt Walter, Katelyn Walter, Trent Farthing, Travis Farthing, Dave Thomas and Judy Thomas, who also announces.
Ways to Buy
| Option | What it means |
|---|---|
| Premium Bidding | You claim no ownership and pay only the auctioneer's final call amount, the premium. |
| Home Bidding | You take ownership and pay the premium plus the animal's market price. Only animals with a listed market value qualify, and you need a hauler and processor arranged before bidding. |
| Multiple Buyer Groups | Groups bid as a unit. Champion animals can be bought with a Bid Allocation Card, and every participant must also register individually. |
| Project Donations | Accepted through September 30, 2026, and listed in the Champion Publication. In-memory donations must be $5,000 or more. |
| Final Gavel | Buyers contribute at various levels, and the pooled funds are split equally among final-year participants. |
Base bids per pound in 2026 were $3.15 for Boer goats, $2.51 for dairy goats and $2.47 for market lambs.
Buyer Rules
- All buyers must register at the Hospitality Table and accept the sale terms before bidding.
- Payment is due on the purchase date unless arranged with the Sale Office. Cash, check payable to "Hancock Co. Ag. Society" and credit card (with a fee) are accepted.
- Late payments incur a 2 percent monthly fee after 30 days. Buyers who do not pay within 56 days are barred from future sales.
- Home purchases are "as is," and the auctioneer's decision is final.
- Grand and Reserve Champion goats, lambs and steers are processed at D&H Meats. Home bidders on those animals must contact D&H Meats for a cut order.
Records
The program lists premium records since 1998. The record Gallon of Milk premium is $10,100 (2013), and the record Market Hog Gilt champion premium is $11,460 (2025).
What Exhibitors Get
Premiums, the money bid above market value, go to the exhibitors. Final-year participants also share the Final Gavel pool equally.
Where
Hancock County Fairgrounds, Findlay, Ohio.
Questions
Do I have to take the animal home?
No. Premium bidding means you pay only the final call amount and claim no ownership.
Where do I register?
At the Hospitality Table on sale day. The Sale Office handles payment and home-purchase arrangements.
Official Links
- 2026 Livestock Sale Program: order of sale, bidding options and rules
Ohio County Fairs and Junior Livestock Shows: The Essentials
Ohio's 2026 fair season listed 94 county and independent fairs plus the Ohio State Fair, running from the Paulding County Fair on June 6 to the Fairfield County Fair ending October 17, per Spectrum News.
State fair
The Ohio State Fair ran July 29 to August 9 in Columbus, and its preliminary livestock schedule put the Sale of Champions on August 9.
Rules and dates
Statewide, market animal exhibitors must finish Quality Assurance at least 45 days before the show, and leasing market animals is not allowed, per the livestock rules overview. Ownership and tagging dates vary by county. Lucas County, for example, set a January 1 ownership date for market beef, per its livestock rules.
Next steps
Ask your county Extension office or FFA advisor for your fair book, tagging dates and sale rules. Weights and entry limits differ by fair, and Pickaway County, for instance, caps exhibitors at 10 animals with no more than 5 market animals. Put QA, tagging and registration dates on one calendar the day you receive them.
Read the full guide: Ohio County Fairs and Junior Livestock Shows
Other Upcoming Events Nearby
- Hancock County Fair
The Hancock County Fair in Findlay opens the first week of September, with harness racing and a Junior Fair that ends in a livestock auction. Held each year; the most recent dates were Sept. 1 to Sept. 7, 2026.
Findlay, OH | Organizer: Hancock County Agricultural Society Official event details - Wayne County 4-H Recognition Banquet
Annual banquet honoring Wayne County 4-H members and volunteers, held Nov. 12, 2026 in the Event Center at the fairgrounds.
- Ohio Farm Bureau Annual Meeting
The 107th Ohio Farm Bureau Annual Meeting brought members to downtown Columbus for two days. Held each year; the most recent dates were December 11-12, 2025.
- Wayne County 4-H Beef Weigh-In
Market beef project members weigh in at the Coliseum on the Wayne County fairgrounds; Jan. 24 was the weather makeup date. Held each year; the most recent date was Jan. 10, 2026.
Wooster, OH Official event details - Shelby County 4-H Market Beef Weigh-In and Tagging
Market cattle weigh-in and tagging for Shelby County junior fair exhibitors at the fairgrounds, with a Jan. 25 makeup date for bad weather. Held each year; the most recent date was Jan. 11, 2026.
Sidney, OH Official event details
Listing checked Nov. 11, 2026 against this source. Details can change; confirm with the organizer.