The Fauquier Youth Show & Sale is a Youth Development project where 4-Her's & FFA members have the opportunity to showcase their livestock projects then sell them to fund future projects and education. Youth Livestock Projects are a vehicle for youth development and offer a variety of life lessons through raising, showing, and selling livestock. Youth who participate in this project report having a better understanding of caring for another living being, better time management, the ability to take on big challenges and more responsibility, marketing and business skills, public speaking, and other vital skills that aid youth in their journey to adulthood. In Fauquier, youth are able to raise sheep, goats, hogs, or cattle for their project.
Along with celebrating the 60th year in 2019, we dedicated the Show and Sale to Howard Grove, a longtime supporter. We are honored and thankful for the support that Howard Grove and the entire Grove family has given us through the years. Howard Lee Grove was born into a farming family of Fauquier County. From an early age he cultivated a passion for agriculture and community that he would carry through his life. Along his journey he was active in many different agricultural organizations and activities including FFA, Farm Bureau, and the Fauquier County Show and Sale, which was of particular importance to him. He was glad to support the Show and Sale over the years in many ways including as a buyer, hauling bleachers, assisting in the barn and also establishing the scholarship among many other things. He believed strongly in our responsibility to take care of the land and the animals upon it and knew that the Show and Sale was an opportunity to help carry those values forward to future generations.
Each year at the Fauquier Show & Sale we recognize one hardworking youth through the Howard Grove Memorial Herdsman Award. Mr. Grove, and now his family, was a longtime supporter of Show & Sale who dedicated countless hours to our program selflessly. We recognize the exhibitor who demonstrates the best combination of sportsmanship, helpfulness, courtesy, time-management, and display of self, project, and area throughout Show & Sale weekend.
In 2022 we dedicated an Adult Volunteer Award in Jeff Woodward's memory, making him the first recipient of the award. Mr. Woodward was actively involved in 4-H and the Fauquier Livestock Show and Sale where he spent many years as a volunteer while both of his sons, Zach and Zane, were exhibitors and wife, Amanda, led one of our livestock clubs. He volunteered his time and resources yearly to assist in the running of Show and Sale. This year the Show and Sale Committee has decided to dedicate an award in Mr. Woodward’s honor. The award will be called the Adult Volunteer Award and will be given annually to the adult who goes above and beyond, freely giving their time to this organization. We are honored to recognize him and his numerous contributions to our annual event. Thank you to the entire Woodward family for sharing Mr. Woodward with us, you are continually in our thoughts and prayers, and we hope this small gift will be a lovely reminder of his contributions to Show & Sale.
In 1960, Mr. Donald Allen, Mr. Jack Kinzer, and Mr. Henry Sanders decided to promote agriculture with the youth in the area. After talking with the Virginia Cooperative Extension personnel, it was decided they would sponsor a beef show. In the beginning the Show and Sale program was held at the Fauquier Livestock Exchange on Old Stockyard Road in Marshall, VA. As agriculture interests were growing among the youth, sheep and hogs were added shortly thereafter. Goats were added to the Show and Sale in 2013.
In 1962, when the Fauquier Livestock Exchange was moved to its new location on the corner of Rt 55 and Zulla Road, the Show and Sale program moved right along with it. After the tragic fire in September 2010, the Show and Sale moved to the Fauquier County Fairgrounds where it is held today.
In 1999, Mr. Howard Grove of Highwater Farm in Bealeton, VA donated the first animal for the scholarship program. Raffle tickets were sold, and the winner received a steer, and the monies collected were the beginning of the Fauquier County 4-H Livestock Scholarship Program. Starting in 2000, it became known as the Scholarship Hog. For many years the Grove family donated and raised a hog for the scholarship program. Over the last few years, a graduating senior has taken on the responsibility of donating and raising a hog. The idea behind this program was to provide the graduating youth of the Fauquier County Show and Sale monies to continue their education beyond 4-H. For the past fourteen years, this program has been alive and well helping many graduating youth. When Ms. Susan P. Rucker passed away in 2006, the scholarship was renamed the Susan P. Rucker Scholarship to honor the service she had given to the youth of the Show and Sale. Ms. Rucker had served as a Show and Sale Manager for over ten years providing tremendous support to the youth in 4-H. Today, the scholarship hog proceeds benefit all graduating youth of 4-H Livestock Clubs who have been active for the past three consecutive years.
Fauquier County 4-H Show and Sale is one of the oldest Show and Sale events in the state of Virginia. Many of the 4-H participating today are multi-generation participants. What the founding fathers started so many years ago has been and will be greatly appreciated by past, present, and future exhibitors.