Sale day success through youth involvement
Involving youth in production sales can expose younger generations to agriculture as well as ease producer stress through assistance with marketing, operations and post-sale tasks.
“There are a lot of youth out there that want to learn. I think that by extending the opportunity, they will feel encouraged to come, help, or to see how a sale operates,” said Grace Vehige, co-owner of T Bar S Cattle Company.
Vehige grew up in the cattle industry and has been a part of production sale operations since her teenage years.
Livestock producers can extend opportunities to younger generations for assistance prior, during or after production sales take place. Sellers can contact local FFA chapters, 4-H clubs or local colleges for help.
By offering opportunities for young people to engage and learn, there are multiple benefits, such as assistance with marketing, on-site operations, operational exposure, networking, portfolio development and more.
For example, Vehige said college-level agricultural communications students with experience can photograph and create graphics promoting the sale. These skills are being learned in the classroom and can be put to tangible use for little to no cost – such as compensation in travel expenses.
Members of FFA chapters or 4-H clubs can be utilized for more administrative roles such as sorting livestock or clerking.
These tasks placed in the hands of the youth can be compensated through community service hours as most youth need hours for involvement requirements in a multitude of clubs and organizations. Often, their advisor will attend the sale as well to serve as a supervisor.
“To ensure sale day success,” Vehige said, “efficiency can best be met by matching the student or volunteer with a task that fits their background and experience, which also allows for skillset growth.”
Vehige also said involving youth in production sales cultivates connections.
“My father always says the cattle business [and agriculture as a whole] is just as much of a people business as anything else,” said Vehige.
Vehige said her family operation would not have been as successful had it not been for crafted connections and the community she and her brothers had as youth growing up in the industry.
As the agriculture industry faces an agricultural labor shortage, encouraging the younger population can bridge the gaps as well as mitigate stress and workload on producers. In addition, these opportunities provide options for building work portfolios.
If interested in receiving help for a production sale, contact local FFA advisors and extension agents or reach out to institutions of higher education. Social media is also a great place to connect with young people looking to get involved.
