Youth livestock shows and fairs are continuing to be canceled or postponed because of COVID-19. Ag Community Relief, a Michigan-based nonprofit, is working hand in hand with partners to continue access for youth to sell their livestock and to assist in funding for their future.

Ag Community Relief and partners DVAuction and Osborn Barr Paramore are working together to connect youth and buyers through access to an online auction platform. Auctions will be broken out by state and will focus on large livestock — cattle, sheep and swine.

“This specific project gives our followers and supporters an opportunity to shine a spotlight on their dedication and hard work by seeing these livestock projects through to the end,” says Matt Schaller, Ag Community Relief president. “Ag Community Relief believes the future of our organization lies in the hands of our youth. For that reason, we encourage youth to be involved in community service and support their future through our scholarship program.”

Related: Complete coronavirus coverage

Ag Community Relief’s goal is to bring relief to active farmers and ranchers and others in the ag industry across the U.S. who experienced devastation by assembling volunteers and donations to help mitigate suffering.

The program will kick off in the Midwest. FFA and 4-H members in Illinois, Kansas, Michigan and Missouri who need an alternative place to sell their livestock because of fair and show cancellations can enter their state’s respective auction. Each auction will be timed and held virtually over a two-week period through DVAuction.

Auction dates

The following are the auction dates for each state:

Missouri. July 18 to Aug. 1

Illinois. July 18 to Aug. 1

Michigan. July 25 to Aug. 8

Kansas. Aug. 1 to 15

“DVAuction is honored to help provide a marketing venue for these hardworking 4-H and FFA youth,” says Dan Broz, CEO of DVAuction. “We’d like to thank Ag Community Relief for making DVAuction a partner to make this program possible.”

Interested 4-H and FFA members can find more information to sell their livestock on the "Current Efforts" page on Ag Community Relief’s website.

Potential buyers can register now using the step-by-step instructions available at agcommunityrelief.com.

Ag Community Relief also is providing others not interested in selling or buying the opportunity to contribute to this effort through sponsorship and donations. For more information on sponsorship opportunities, or if your state is interested in opening its own auction, visit agcommunityrelief.com to find out more.

Since its inception in 2017, Ag Community Relief has raised more than $750,000 in cash and valued supplies — including hay, feed, fencing and veterinary supplies — to help farms throughout the country. You also can find Ag Community Relief on Facebook and Twitter.

Source: Ag Community Relief, which is solely responsible for the information provided and is wholly owned by the source. Informa Business Media and all its subsidiaries are not responsible for any of the content contained in this information asset.