Sale

        Now to the sale. When you are judged, the judge is in the center of the ring. You're not interrupting the judges view of the market lamb. Now your going to switch. Your going to be showing your lamb to the buyers. (Like in the picture above.) This is very hard your first couple years. I remember my second year of 4-H very clearly. I was crying my eyes out while I was walking around with the auctioneer doing his thing. It was hard to think that in less than 20 seconds, he wouldn't be mine anymore. Believe me, it's ten times worse when they take them away. But try to smile. People appreciate someone that smiles and seems to be a polite person. Walk around once and be careful to keep the lamb insight to almost everyone. A ton can happen in three seconds at an auction; you can go from $800 to  $1,000. So go at a fast pace. About two times as you normally would. Then go to where the auctioneer stand is, (or in the back where ALL can see clearly.) and brace directly to the people facing you.  With your lambs butt to the buyers with the capitol B. (Buyers) Stand sort of in front of your lamb or go three seconds and switch sides. #=person with your GRAND CHAMPION RIBBON!! (Use a little kid, they are cute and buyers adore that.)

                                    ---------auctioneer stand-----------
                                  -    #                     $*                             -
                                -                          (you)                             -           (buyers)                                   (buyers)                  -                                                                -
                              -                                                             -
                                  -                                                      -
                                      -  - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -
                                                       (Buyers)

    Everyday after the sale is different. My fair puts the lambs into different corrals for different slaughter houses. They usually let you say goodbye and take your lamb to the correct corral. But one morning I came into the barn to find that people put them in themselves. I cried so hard, its not even funny. This is the time to get tissues out. Everybody has trouble with their lamb, they get very frustrated and want to shoot them themselves. I don't care how much you think you hate your lamb, deep down inside, you love them to death. But this will get better every year. Last year was the first year I didn't cry and it was my fifth year. Now I'm in the stage of,"Gimme the Money."