Purchasing Meat at the San Mateo County Fair

Meat from 1/4 of a 1300 lb Steer

Purchasing Meat at the San Mateo County Fair

The auction starts at 10 AM on the second Saturday of Fair

You do not have to be present at the auction to purchase. Proxie bidders can be arranged easily. 
 
Meat from one Lamb

Meat from one Pig

For nearly a century, the San Mateo County Fair has hosted the Youth Livestock Auction for young people to sell their top quality animals. These youth have selected, fed, cared for and groomed these animals in preparation for qualification at the livestock competition and show prior to the auction. Very specific guidelines and criteria for slaughter must be met before the animal can be accepted into the auction.

Here's the amount of meat one gets from each breed of animal (animals vary in weight, so the actual amount will differ from that below):

1000 lb Steer: 460 lb meat
100 lb Goat: 33 lb meat
200 lb Hog: 140 lb meat
100 lb Lamb: 50 lb meat

Animals are sold live, and the buyer pays for processing fees. The process for choosing a custom cut and wrap house is seamless - the buyer fills out a form at the fair to specify a processing house. A few weeks after the fair, you will receive a phone call asking how you want the meat processed (size of chops, what types of cuts, perhaps you'd like spicy sausage or smoked ham). You'll be told when the meat is ready and when you may pick it up.

Chickens and turkeys are also sold at auction. The 4Her's put a lot of work into raising each bird, and prices reflect the work - not market value. Chickens usually sell for $100 and up, and buyers think of the price as a reward for the dedication the 4H'ers take when the raise animals. Poultry will all be processed together at a licensed facility and delivered to you once processing is completed.



County Fair Website: http://www.sanmateocountyfair.com/

San Carlos Eaton Hills 4H Club Web Site