county’s finest livestock to be sold at STANISLAUS COUNTY fair

The theme of the 2008 Fair may be nuts and dinosaurs, but the focus turns to heifers, beef, sheep and pigs as bidders prepare for one of the best livestock auctions Stanislaus County has to offer.  

Local bidders will have the chance to take home some of the finest livestock in the Central Valley at the Stanislaus County Fair’s 41^st Annual Replacement Heifer Sale on Friday, Aug. 1, 2008, and the 44^th Annual Junior Livestock Auction on Saturday, Aug. 2. The fairgrounds are located at 900 N. Broadway in Turlock.

Buyers may pre-register for the sale and auction at the Fair’s Exhibits Office, in Costco Commercial Exhibits Building E-2, until 5 p.m. on Friday, Aug. 1.

“For many 4-H and FFA exhibitors, the money raised at the Heifer Sale and Junior Livestock Auction is the start of a generous contribution to a first car, a college fund or money that will bring childhood dreams to reality,” said Pennie Rorex, spokesperson for the Stanislaus County Fair. “I think bidders would be hard-pressed to find animals that are better fed and better cared for than those exhibited at the Stanislaus County Fair.”

 Buyers are invited to the 41^st Annual Replacement Heifer Sale on Friday, Aug. 1, immediately following the Dairy Awards Assembly which begins at 7 p.m. in the Thurman Pavilion, sponsored by County Bank.

 See the county’s finest rabbits, poultry, market steer, swine, sheep and goats at the 44^th Annual Junior Livestock Auction, Saturday, Aug. 2 following the Livestock Awards Assembly in the Thurman Pavilion sponsored by County Bank. The assembly begins at 8 a.m.

Catalogs for the 2008 Replacement Heifer Sale are available now through Aug. 1 in the Fair’s Livestock Office. The Livestock Office is located on the fairgrounds, near the Soderquist Road entrance. The catalogs are sponsored by Yosemite Farm Credit.

Catalogs for the Junior Livestock Auction will be available on the morning of the auction and will be distributed during bidder registration and check-in.

With over 1,700 4-H and FFA animals entered in the 2008 Stanislaus County Fair, this year’s sale and auction are sure to produce an impressive roster of livestock.

The 2008 Stanislaus County Fair opens Friday, July 25 for a 10-day run. Discounted Fair admission tickets, arena event tickets and unlimited ride wristbands are now on sale. Visit www.stancofair.com for complete ticket sale details.

This year’s Stanislaus County Fair is themed “Nuts are DINO-mite,” a salute to the valley’s robust nut industry. The Almond Board of California, a major sponsor of the Fair’s themed tribute, will be offering free samples of almonds each day of the Fair.

New to the 2008 Fair will be Jurassic Journey, an 8,000 square foot life-size dinosaur replica exhibit. The dinosaur exhibit is sponsored by Sky Trek Aviation and is making its California debut at the Stanislaus County Fair.

In 2008, the Stanislaus County Fair was awarded a first place award for the best Overall Children’s Program by the Western Fairs Association. The mission of the Stanislaus County Fair is to provide a family and community oriented experience promoting agriculture, education, entertainment and technology.