![\"\"](\"https:\/\/theavtimes.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/08\/Jr.-Livestock-Auction.jpg\")
LANCASTER – Despite a myriad of COVID-19 restriction challenges, the 2020 Kiwanis Jr. Livestock Auction was a huge success, ranking third in dollars raised over the past 65 years with nearly $600,000 in bidding that directly supports local participating youth, organizers announced Thursday.<\/p>\n
Traditionally, the auction is a single-day event, but this year’s event was a virtual event spanning over seven days with \u201cadd-on\u201d
\ndonations running for a total of 10 days.<\/p>\n
The event had 305 \u201clots,\u201d or animals up for bid, a slightly lower number than past years. The bidding days culminated with live auctioneer Don Rogers calling the event on the final bidding day. The total dollars raised for the 2020 virtual event was $591,914, according to organizers.<\/p>\n
\u201cThis is an incredible success story, a true testament to the resilience and heart of this community,” said AV Fair & Event Center CEO Dan Jacobs.<\/p>\n
The top 20 buyers for this year\u2019s event included: Animal House, Barnyard Belles, AV Ford, Kyle & Kyle, NASTF, Theurer Orthodontics, Rich Meiers Landscaping, Calandri Farms, Trade Craft Farms, All Cal Jet, PBLS Surveying, Nibbelink Masonry, Giles Group, All Glass & Plastics, AV Engineering, Porter Concrete Construction, Ron & Yvette Emard, Builders Unlimited Constructors (BUC), Schooners Patio Grille and Brian Gorrindo.<\/p>\n
\u201cThis virtual event is one for the history books. The entire process was very different, and I commend the gallant effort that everyone in this community put forth to ensure that this year\u2019s auction was not canceled, and in fact, ended up being one of our top money raisers,” said Drew
\nMercy, President of the Antelope Valley Fair Association. “We have all learned a lot, and I suspect that we\u2019ll be having conversations about how we possibly embed virtual bidding in future auctions.”<\/p>\n