PCJLSI Auction Rules

The PCJLSI Auctions are hosted by an organization separate from the University of Arizona Cooperative Extension, 4-H, and FFA. 

AUCTION RULES

Pima County Junior Livestock Sales, Inc.

Participation in this auction is a privilege, and not a right.

 I.         GENERAL RULES:

These rules apply to both the Livestock (Beef, Sheep, Swine, Market Goat) Auction and the Small Stock (Rabbit, Cavy, Poultry, Pigeon, Pygmy Goat) Auction which are under the supervision of Pima County Junior Livestock Sales, Inc. (hereafter referred to as PCJLSI) in addition to the specific rules listed below for these Auctions.  The Livestock Auction is limited to Steers, Lambs, Hogs, and Market Goats. Exhibitors banned forever may not sell, even if showing at the Pima County Fair in the current year, regardless of placing. PCJLSI has the sole authority in the interpretation and enforcement of the Auction rules. 

PCJLSI is not part of 4H, FFA, or the Southwestern Fair Commission.  These rules and their enforcement are totally separate from 4-H and FFA.  All concerns about the following auction and exhibitor requirements for the sales should be addressed to PCJLSI president.

A. NOTIFICATION:

1. PCJLSI reserves the right to test any animal officially entered in any division eligible to sell in either the Livestock Sale or the Small Stock Sale, for any substances including drugs/medications or feed additives.

2. For the 2025 Pima County Fair, at a minimum, the Grand and Reserve Champion livestock animals (Beef, Sheep, Swine, Market Goat) will be tested. Tissue, blood, and/or urine samples may be collected. Blood and/or urine samples will be collected as soon as possible after the Grand and Reserve Champions are selected as required. This will be a terminal sale for the Livestock Grand and Reserve Champion animals.  Other animals entered in the market shows may be tested. Tissue, blood, and/or urine samples may be collected.

3. Coordinators will submit all livestock weight slips to PCJLSI within thirty minutes after the scales have closed. Only the livestock that have been weighed in a timely manner and had the form similarly submitted will be maintained in the PCJLSI files.

4. Animals are not the responsibility of PCJLSI. Each exhibitor is responsible for the care and feeding of all project animals until they are released by the Project Coordinator on Sunday, April 27th, 2025, at 6:00 p.m. or sometime thereafter.

5. PCJLSI reserves the right to make deductions from any exhibitor’s sale to cover outstanding balances that have been generated by other family or household members associated with the exhibitor.

B. NUMBER OF ANIMALS TO BE SOLD:

Exhibitors will be allowed to sell only one lot or animal in either the Livestock Auction or the Small Stock Auction, with the following exceptions:

1.     If an exhibitor has a Grand and/or Reserve Champion Steer, Sheep, Swine or Market Goat, and a Grand and/or Reserve Champion Meat Pen, Fryer, or Commercial Laying Hens they will sell in both auctions.

2.     If an exhibitor has a Grand and/or Reserve Champion Meat Pen, Fryer, or Commercial Laying Hens, and an animal eligible for the Livestock Auction, they may sell in both auctions.

3.     If an exhibitor has a Grand and/or Reserve Champion Steer, Sheep, Swine or Market Goat and an animal eligible for the Small Stock Auction, they may sell in both auctions.

4.     All Grand and Reserve Champion Steers, Sheep, Swine, Market Goats, Meat Pens, Fryers, and Commercial Laying Hens must sell provided they have complied with all 4-H and FFA rules.

C.    EXHIBITOR DRESS CODE:

Exhibitor Dress Code for entry in the sale ring shall be as follows:  Pants in a solid dark color, a shirt of green and/or white that is long or short sleeved with a collar, an optional green and/or white tie or scarf and vests in 4-H colors. FFA exhibitors are to dress as approved by FFA Chapter. No hats or caps etc. are to be worn. Exceptions for religious reasons will be considered. In the event of the inability to meet the dress code, an exhibitor may request assistance from PCJLS, Inc. at least 48 hours prior to sale. Animals and/or exhibitors may not be decorated (bows, glitter, graffiti, costumes, etc.). Failure to comply with the standard of presentation may result in a financial penalty being assessed up to the difference between the floor price and the sale price.

D.    EXHIBITOR AUCTION RESPONSIBILITIES:

1.     Exhibitors must take their own animal through the auction ring except in unusual circumstances, such as sickness or family emergency. Only currently Quality Assurance Certified enrolled members of Pima County 4-H or FFA in good standing, exhibiting at the current Pima County Fair, may substitute with the approval of the Project Coordinator and the executive board of PCJLSI. Any exhibitor violating this rule may receive floor price (less commissions and fees) only, as determined by PCJLSI.

2.     Extra-curricular activities will not be considered an exception. Exhibitors are responsible for taking their own animal through the auction ring. Any exhibitor violating this rule may receive floor price (less commissions and fees) only, as determined by PCJLSI.

3.     Special Needs: exhibitors with mental/physical disabilities, which limit the exhibitor’s ability to take their own animal through the auction ring by normal means. Special needs will be handled by either the 4-H Agent or FFA Advisor and 4-H/FFA members on an individual basis in consultation with the executive board of PCJLSI at least ten (10) days prior to the auction.

4.     Exhibitors who fail to be at the auction ring in the proper sequence will not be allowed to sell their animals through the auction and must remove their animals from the fairgrounds on Sunday, April 27th, 2025, after 6:00 p.m.; or personally consign them to the packer through the PCJLSI. Commission will be charged for all animals consigned. Animals left on the fairgrounds after 10 p.m. on Sunday, April 28th, 2024 may be forfeited to PCJLSI to be disposed of at the organization’s discretion. The exhibitor will not be entitled to monetary compensation for the forfeited animal(s) and may be liable for costs incurred.

5.     Exhibitors selling in the auction(s) must mail a Thank You letter to their buyer. The stamped and addressed envelope is to be verified by the project leader prior to distributing the auction check.

E.     EXHIBITOR’S RESPONSIBILITIES: FOREIGN SUBSTANCE

1.     It is the exhibitor’s responsibility to submit a market animal intended for human consumption with 1) residue tolerances within guidelines established by USDA/FDA and 2) be free of any substance not approved of by the USDA/FDA. Exhibitors and their families should exercise special care when administering any products to or on their animals. DO NOT use over the counter products made for human consumption or use. Use only products labeled as acceptable for species-specific market animal use. Other products may produce a residue in the meat and render the carcass unacceptable by the USDA/FDA. PCJLSI reserves the right to require the exhibitor to submit the appropriate documentation proving that the animal is residue free or pay for the required testing.

2.     The exhibitor and/or immediate family must notify Project Coordinator of ANY substance which was administered to the animal prior to arrival at the Pima County Fair and which has not met the required withdrawal period for that substance. These include, but are not limited to: growth stimulants, drugs/medication, and/or feed/water additives (i.e. antibiotics, wormers). Notification must be made in writing prior to check-in/weigh-in/penning of animal at the Pima County Fair. Project Coordinator will notify the President or Auction Chairman of PCJLSI of the declaration.

3.     If it is necessary to administer any USDA/FDA approved species-specific market animal drug/medication, or feed/water additive during the time 4-H/FFA projects are housed at the Pima County Fair, the Project Coordinator must be notified in writing prior to any administrations. If situations warrant, such as a medical emergency, that a Project Coordinator cannot be notified prior to administration of drug/medication, or feed/water additive, the exhibitor and/or his/her immediate family must notify the Project Coordinator within ten (10) hours of administration of drug/medication, or feed/water additive except in cases immediately prior to the auction, when notification must take place prior to the animal entering the sale ring. Project Coordinator will notify the President or Auction Chairman of PCJLSI of the declaration.

4.     If any animal is being treated with USDA/FDA approved species specific market animal drug/medication and a delayed market date is needed to ensure a residue free carcass, it is the exhibitor’s responsibility to ensure that appropriate announcement of the delayed market requirement is submitted in writing with the prescribed requirement to PCJLSI prior to entering the sale ring. The exhibitor will then be responsible for maintaining the animal until it is residue free and then delivering the animal to the designated location (packer, buyer etc.).  Grand and Reserve Grand Champion animals requiring a delayed slaughter date will be treated on an individual basis with special handling as required.

5.     Sale money will be withheld until tests are complete.

6.     Exhibit Sale Disposition: If it is proven that an animal has received or tests report the positive presence of drugs/medication, or feed/water additive(s) not approved by the USDA, FDA, or above the USDA guideline residue levels and/or not in compliance with the USDA Wholesome Meat Act, in any test or procedure, that animal will be disqualified and the exhibitor declared ineligible to receive sale proceeds or packer monies (if applicable).  The carcass of a disqualified animal will be disposed of per instructions from USDA or FDA or the State of Arizona. The Buyer will be given the option to void the purchase or accept a replacement carcass of equal value. However, in either event, the exhibitor will not receive any of the proceeds.

7.     If an entry is disqualified, the owner/exhibitor will not be eligible to sell in future Pima County Junior Livestock Sales (Livestock or Small Stock Sales). All disqualifications can be appealed to PCJLSI.

8.     If substances or residues, including drugs/medications, or feed/water additives, as defined above, are found in the tissue of the carcasses of animals entered/sold through the PCJLSI sale, PCJLSI will in no way be held liable or responsible for condition of carcass or sale price of animal. Further, the exhibitor and his/her family will indemnify and hold harmless PCJLSI and all of its sponsors and assisting organizations, their employees and agents, against all legal or other proceedings in connection with said drug testing. The exhibitor and his/her family will indemnify and hold harmless the show and its sponsors and assisting organizations against all claims for injury to any person or property caused by any animal and/or its meat.

9.     If the exhibitor’s animal is condemned for anything other than illegal drug use, the Buyer has the option to refuse the product and void the purchase or accept a replacement carcass of equal value at the exhibitor’s expense. If buyer voids the sale and refuses a replacement carcass, the exhibitor receives no compensation and may be liable for costs incurred.

F.     EXHIBITOR’S PENALTIES:

If animals intended for human consumption are found with 1) residue tolerances not within guidelines established by USDA/FDA, 2) substances not approved of by the USDA/FDA and/or 3) if the substance is approved and the exhibitor fails to meet the requirements of withdrawal times and/or 4) fails to declare any medication and/or feed/water additives that have not met USDA/FDA withdrawal times at check in:

1.     Exhibitor will be barred from consigning any/all animals to the PCJLSI Livestock and Small Stock sales FOREVER.

2.     Exhibitor will forfeit all auction sale money associated with the contaminated animal and be subject to all disposal charges.

3.     Anyone caught tampering per the above substance abuse violation with their own or another animal will be prohibited from the sale FOREVER and will be referred to the appropriate authorities.

4.     Anyone caught altering, changing and/or misrepresenting animal(s) will be barred from consigning any/all animals to the PCJLSI Livestock and Small Stock sales FOREVER. This includes switching animal identification papers, tags, brands etc. or the substitution of a different animal for the one originally issued the identification. All parties involved in the activity will be reported the appropriate legal and national fair associations.

5.     A written request for an appeal of the lifetime ban from the sale can be submitted to an executive member of PCJLSI.

III.     SMALL STOCK AUCTION RULES:

All General Auction Rules will apply in addition to the following rules, specific to Small Stock. The Junior Animal Certification submittal will be incorporated into the Small Stock entry. For the 2025 Pima County Fair, random blood, urine and tissue samples may be collected. The following specific rules for Small Stock also apply.

A.    SALE PROCEDURES:

1.     Animals in the Rabbit, Cavy, Poultry, Pigeon, and Pygmy Goat projects will be sold at auction on Sunday, April 27th, 2025. Blue ribbon breed animals, blue ribbon meat pens, and blue ribbon fryers may sell provided the exhibitor complied with all 4-H and FFA rules and requirements. Pet class animals will not sell.

2.     Auctioneers will be provided by PCJLSI.

3.     Sale order will be determined by PCJLSI.

4.     Donated animals will be consigned to the packer at market price or processed for donation to the charity of buyer’s choice at buyer’s expense.

5.     All sales through the auctions are FINAL and will be processed by PCJLSI. No one should harass the buyer(s) with buy back requests.

6.     Checks will be released to the project-club leader, community leader, or FFA advisor when adequate funds are available. Adequate funds are defined here as enough money collected to cover all exhibitors’ checks and other liabilities incurred by the PCJLSI in administering the Livestock and Small Stock Sales.

7.     There will be a 15% commission charge on all animals that sell. Funds received from this commission shall be used by PCJLSI. If a photograph of the exhibitor is given to the buyer(s), a fee will be deducted from the exhibitor’s check. Every exhibitor wishing to participate in the Pima County Junior Small stock Auctions must submit a completed United States of America W-9 form at weigh in/check in at the Pima County Fair.  Failure to complete a W-9 may result in exhibitor not receiving sale proceeds. In the event that a sale check needs to be re-issued because it was lost, the exhibitor will be charged the stop payment fee for the original check.

B.    EXHIBITOR RESPONSIBILITIES:

1.     Exhibitors may sign up for the auction following the close of Small Stock judging events. All sales agreements must be signed by the exhibitor’s parent or guardian and turned in by 4:00 p.m. Wednesday, April 23rd, 2025. THIS INCLUDES MUST SELL LOTS SUCH AS ANY/ALL MEAT PENS. IF THE DEADLINE HAS NOT BEEN MET, THEN THEY WILL BE SCRATCHED FROM THE SALE.  If a pedigree is available, it must be turned in with the sales agreement.  At the time of sign-up exhibitors will receive a “For Sale at the Auction” sign to be placed on their animal’s cage.

2.     Exhibitors may withdraw an animal from the auction by having the Small Stock Chairperson void all copies of the sales agreement before 4:00 p.m. Wednesday April 23rd, 2025.

3.     Any sick or injured animal will be withdrawn from the auction by the auction officials. Show officials may allow substitution of another blue-ribbon animal, provided the animal meets exhibitor ownership requirements.

4.     Any entry with missing, incorrect or illegible tattoos, ear tags, or leg bands must be withdrawn from the auction immediately. No exceptions and/or substitutions will be allowed in these cases.