COLUMBIANA — Canfield Junior Fair youth spend their whole spring and summer raising animals that will become food for the successful bidders during the Junior Fair auction.

The auction happens on Thursday and Friday of the fair this week. Afterward, successful bidders can have their animals processed immediately at several processing plants that have reserved spots for them.

“Junior Fair animals already have a reserved spot,” said Junior Fair director Kim Moff.

Several area packing plants have scheduled slots for the Junior Fair auction animals that support the youth. It also can be a way for a buyer to get their product faster since most plants are booked way out this year.

“Fall is always our busiest time,” said Rob Donaldson, owner of Horst Packing Inc. of Columbiana. “Right now we are booking beef at the end of June 2021, and pigs at the end of next January.”

He said fall is usually busy due to fairs, deer processing from hunters, the holidays and farmers who typically slaughter their animals at that time. He said with the pandemic, the processing has really backed up, but Horst supports the Junior Fair by holding spaces for animals.

“We support the Junior Fair by holding slots that we could otherwise (easily) sell,” he said.

On average, Horst handles 20 beef cows and 25 pigs each week. Pigs are processed the following day after slaughter, but cows are slaughtered and placed on hooks to age around 14 days. Donaldson said that lets the muscle break down and leaves the meat tender. For the pigs, Horst Packing has a large smoker that is used.

During last year’s Junior Fair, Horst handled 80 hogs, 36 beef cows, and 20 lambs.

As soon as the buyer takes possession of the animal, they can contact the processor and it will be picked up and the successful bidder will be stocking a freezer in a very short time.

Prior to the auction, all area residents will be able to see the judging live through streaming this year. For more information on the Junior Fair and auction visit the Junior Fair website at www.mcjrfair.com.