September 22, 2008
Well, again we survived another
production sale. We want to thank all the members,
consigners and buyers who made this sale a success. We
had fewer out of town buyers this year, which we can
attribute to the economy (do we have one?) and high gas
prices. Also, the price of feed certainly affected the
amount of animals sold and bought. But, all in all, it
was a good sale.
We grossed $29,835.00. Expenses
were $1937.62, which were less than last year so the
commission charged was 2% less. This helped compensate
for the lower prices, not much, but a little. The final
count sold was 107 single lots and 10 lots of 24
commercial animals. So, our average selling price per
animal was about the same as last year.
The raffle took in $576.00, so it
was a great success. Congratulations to the winners and
thanks to the individuals and businesses that made
donations.
Some suggestions have been made
about how we could improve the sale next year. I have
listed them below, think them over and we’ll decide at
the next meeting if we want to implement them or not.
1.
Revise the flyer to list some of our consigners
and bloodline of animals to be sold. Also, if possible,
some pictures of animals previously sold. Also, have
phone numbers and email addresses of contact members and
have the website address listed noting that a printable
catalog is located there.
2.
Get the catalog out earlier, at least a month
before the sale. If this requires setting the deadline
for entries earlier, make that adjustment. Come up with
a way to have the sellers proof read their consignments
before catalog is printed and submitted to the website.
This could be done by email for the most part. No
substitutions after 7 days before the sale. Sellers
will be allowed to scratch their animals, but not
substitute.
3.
In the barns, put the lot numbers in order in the
pens, as lots 1 thru 10 are in the first pens and so on.
Then the folks working in the barns will not have to
search for the next lot number somewhere in the pens of
two barns. This could be accomplished by having each
consigner get consecutive lot numbers and alternating
with a large producer then a small producer in sales
order. That way each consigner would have their animals
in one area. Also, it was suggested to mix the sales
order up, selling the bucks and does and various ages in
a random order. This is the way the large internet
sales are done and their prices seem to be more
consistent.
4.
Buy the numbered tags for the lot numbers to be
put on chain or cord around the animals necks. This
will eliminate using duct tape or painting the numbers
on the backs of the goats.
5.
Tattoos must be readable. This is the seller’s
responsibility and no exceptions, if they’re not
legible, the animals will either not be sold or sold as
commercial.
6.
Build staging alleys in panel segments with
swinging gates separating each section that can be
dismantled and stored after each sale.
7.
Work with the Fair board to assist getting new
pens for the sheep barns, hopefully like the ones in the
goat barn which are sturdy and easy to get in and out of
and to clean.
8.
Have consigners straw their own pens, have straw
located by or in the pens so all they have to do is
spread it. We wasted straw the last 2 years on pens
that were not used.
9.
On the raffle, write down the beginning and
ending numbers of the tickets sold so that the proceeds
can be balanced and we can determine how many tickets
are sold for the donated doeling.
10.
Make sure consigners sign all the registration
papers for the animals they are selling before they are
checked in and the papers are turned over to the
clerks.
I’m
sure there are other suggestions and comments which will
need to be discussed. So to get your input heard, come
to the next meeting on October 4, 2008 at 1 pm
at the Askew Foxtail Farm. If you’re coming by I-84
westbound, take Exit 13, turn right(east) off the
freeway exit and then left(north) on Sand Hollow Rd. Go
approximately 7 miles (you’ll go thru a flashing red
light at 4 corners, our road is a mile north of it) to
SE 1st Avenue. This is just before you come
to an overpass over the railroad tracks. If you go over
the tracks and the river, you’ve gone too far. Anyway,
turn left (west) on SE 1st and go
approximately ½ mile to 5180. You should be able to see
the goats in the pasture, just before the driveway.
We’re on the north side of the road, white with black
trim house back a little ways off the road. There are 4
large spruce trees by the driveway. Phone number is
278-3859 if you get lost. We welcome everyone to come
and help decide what we will and won’t do next year. If
you are unable to attend, please drop me a note or email
about what you think of the above suggestions and
anymore you can come up with so they can be discussed.
Thanks
again to everyone who attended the sale this year.
Clare Askew
Secretary/Treasurer
