Fair livestock auction donations crucial to area nonprofits

Every year the young 4-Hers at the Holmes County Fair are the recipients of the graciousness and giving of the community during the annual Holmes County Fair Livestock Sale, where they continually see sale prices that rise far above the norm in Ohio county fairs.

However, it isn’t just the 4-H kids who receive from the support and kindness of the community, but also various nonprofit organizations are on the receiving end of the sale.

This year during the sale Aug. 8-9, many of the buyers purchased animals and quickly donated them to area nonprofit organizations who will in turn provide meat for many others. Among those entities supported were the Glenmont Food Pantry, Safe Harbor, 58:12, the Holmes County Home, Love Center Food Pantry, the Darb Snyder Holmes County Senior Center and others.

These purchases of the 4-H livestock by area businesses end up not only supporting the 4-H youth, but also the nonprofits, who in turn will pass those provisions along to residents, seniors and many others.

Thus, the giving ends up multiplying in its blessings.

Matt Feikert, Holmes County Fair vice president and the livestock sale chairman, said seeing that type of commitment from the community is inspiring.

“That’s what makes this community so special,” Feikert said. “Every year you wonder what is going to happen, and it’s always the same. People give from the heart, and even when the economy is struggling, people here give from the heart.”

Steve Waltman, who co-chairs the livestock poultry committee, said it is a blessing to watch so many people give and then give again without a second thought.

He said the majority of the purchased poultry went right back to the community once it was purchased at the sale.

“I know this makes a big impact on these organizations,” Waltman said.

He said all of the donated poultry is delivered to Pleasant Valley Poultry & Processing in Baltic, noting there are very few licensed facilities large enough to take on that much product at one time.

On the morning after the poultry sale, the poultry committee gathered at the fair facility at Harvest Ridge at 4 a.m. to get the poultry transported to PVP by 7 a.m.

Once the meat is processed, it will be picked up by the poultry committee and distributed to the appropriate organizations throughout the area.

“It’s a huge undertaking, but it’s such a neat way for our community to give to these organizations,” Waltman said. “Their giving touches the lives of so many people.”

For the organizations, these windfalls of giving are a blessing because it touches the lives of many people.

Edgar Raber, director at the Love Center Food Pantry, said the donations of every type of meat are a welcome addition to their food pantry selection, and they have no trouble doling out the meat to area families.

“Our local community has really helped many families through these donations,” Raber said. “Our clientele loves the variety and enjoy the generosity of many who have donated. It’s been a real blessing to us and to many throughout our community, and it’s a great supply that goes a long way in making a lot of people happy.”

“We can’t begin to express our gratitude to those who donate,” Reece Uhl of the Holmes County Home said. “It is so typical of this community to think of others in need. These donations continue to be very important to us, and it’s really great because the residents really look forward to having barbecues.”

He said it also serves as a wonderful moment for the county’s youth to recognize the giving spirit that is so prevalent in Holmes County.

While the Holmes County Home does pay for the processing fees, Uhl said they have had some businesses contact them and tell them they also will pick up processing fees for their donation.

In addition, Holmes-Wayne Electric Cooperative has created a fund to help pay additional processing fees to both the Holmes County Home and the Senior Center, another indication that supporting community is more important than feeding the bottom line.

That sentiment is held by many local businesses, and with the donations to area organizations playing out the way it has again this year, it is evident that taking care of community remains a vital part of Holmes County.