Fair Market Livestock Sale switches to online platform

The annual Market Livestock Sale scheduled for Aug. 22 at the Northwest Montana Fair will be conducted via an online bidding platform this year in response to slowing the spread of COVID-19 in Flathead County, the Kalispell Chamber of Commerce Agribusiness Committee announced Wednesday.

The committee has organized the sale in conjunction with local 4-H clubs, FFA and the Northwest Montana Fair for the past 40 years. Students spend the winter, spring, and summer months raising animals for the sale before over 100 businesses and individuals come together with friends and family to purchase top-quality, locally raised lamb, beef, and pork all while recognizing the Flathead Valley’s agricultural roots and supporting area students.

“After careful consideration and concern for the safety of students, their friends and family, employers, coworkers, and spectators, the four organizers of the Market Livestock Sale have unanimously agreed to partner with Kalispell’s Gardner Auction Service to deliver the sale live online this year,” a press release from the Kalispell Chamber stated. Potential buyers will have the ability to see each of the students with their animal, know the animal’s weight, and hear from the auctioneer just as in prior years, in addition to still being able to indicate which processor they would like to use, if they would like to donate the meat to a local nonprofit, resell the animal, and more.

“Bringing the sale live online will still give buyers the feel and pace of the sale, while ensuring everyone stays safe,” said Mark Lalum, chair of the Agribusiness Committee and general manager of CHS Mountain Co-Op. “We feel the concern from parents and business owners about the potential impact if a student or employee were to test positive for COVID-19, many of whom would have to quarantine for two weeks, and that just isn’t acceptable. This online format will enable folks to still be able to support the students and get top-quality meat, just in a different way than we’re used to.”

Interested buyers will need to register for the sale by creating an account at https://gardnerauction.hibid.com/catalog/226706/august-22--2020/

Step-by-step instructions for creating an account and how to place bids will be released on the Kalispell Chamber’s website by next week. Questions should be directed to Jenn Cronk, administrative services manager for the Kalispell Chamber, at (406) 758-2806 or j.cronk@kalispellchamber.com.