OKEECHOBEE -- On Saturday, April 2, the Okeechobee County Livestock Market will give some 4-H and FFA members a second chance to sell their livestock project animals.

Every year at county fairs and livestock shows, there are always some kids who learn a tough lesson when they are unable to sell their project animals. Some may be turned away because the animals are too unruly for the show ring, but for most, the problem is the animal did not “make weight.”

Some counties, like Okeechobee County, have a minimum weight the animals must weigh in order to quality for the annual sale. In Okeechobee that minimum is 230 pounds for the hogs and 1,000 pounds for the steers.

Some counties may set weight based on the animal’s first weigh-in and a required percentage increase for the time period between that first weigh-in and the final weigh-in.

Daniel said the Second Chance Sale will be a chance for those young people to make back some of the money they invested in purchasing and raising their project animals. “It’s an opportunity to get back more than the market price,” she explained.

She said many of the young people use that money to invest in the next year’s project animal.

The Second Chance Sale is open to all youth from all Florida counties.

Animals will be sold by the head, just as they are at the Okeechobee County Youth Livestock Show. There will be a weigh-in so the buyers will have that information, she added. A veterinarian will be on site to handle health certificates.

Check-in on sale day is from 9 a.m. to noon. The sale starts at 1  p.m. The sale is open to show hogs, steers and heifers only.

Those who wish to sell an animal or participate in the sale as a buyer should go online to register at: www.okeechobeelivestockmarket.com/specialsales

Can’t make the sale but want to help the kids? Go online to www.okeechobeelivestockmarket.com/specialsales to make a donation online. The money will be dispersed to all youth who participate in the sale as a bonus or “add on.”

For more information, contact Matt Clemons at 863-634-7298 or the Okeechobee Livestock Market Office at 863-763-3127.