They’ve spent months caring for and working with livestock and on Saturday, July 25, they showcased their hard work at the OC Fair.
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The Junior Livestock Auction has become a fair tradition among many of the FFA and 4-H clubs in the area.
Once called Future Farmers of America, several FFA programs have endured on high school campuses, with students learning about agriculture and livestock careers.
The students and club members raise cows, goats, lambs, hogs, turkeys and more, spending hours feeding and training them daily and preparing them for showing.
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David Wisniewski with La Habra High School’s FFA program shows his friend’s turkey during the annual Junior Livestock Auction at the OC Fair on Saturday, July 25, 2026. (Photo by Mindy Schauer, Orange County Register/SCNG)
Allison Graciano, with Sonora High School’s FFA program, spends time with Bagel, the goat she raised for the OC Fair’s Junior Livestock Auction. “No matter what happens, I know I gave him the best 8 months of his life,” she said of the emotional goodbye after the auction on Saturday, July 25, 2026. “He’s such a cuddle bug,” she said.(Photo by Mindy Schauer, Orange County Register/SCNG)
Megan Vanden Raadt cheers on Buena Park High School with her 1-year-old son Barron during the annual Junior Livestock Auction at the OC Fair on Saturday, July 25, 2026. (Photo by Mindy Schauer, Orange County Register/SCNG)
Auctioneer Jarett Bramley takes bids during the annual Junior Livestock Auction at the OC Fair on Saturday, July 25, 2026. The program supports 4-H and FFA agriculture education programs throughout Orange County. (Photo by Mindy Schauer, Orange County Register/SCNG)
Alya Mraish holds a basket of bunnies for her friend during the annual Junior Livestock Auction at OC Fair on Saturday, July 25, 2026. (Photo by Mindy Schauer, Orange County Register/SCNG)
Kamren Hofta, left, and Annika Federoff, cheer for their La Habra High School classmates during the annual Junior Livestock Auction at the OC Fair on Saturday, July 25, 2026. (Photo by Mindy Schauer, Orange County Register/SCNG)
One-year-old Barron Vanden Raadt checks out Biggie, Buena Park High School’s Grand Champion cow, during the annual Junior Livestock Auction at the OC Fair on Saturday, July 25, 2026. (Photo by Mindy Schauer, Orange County Register/SCNG)
Patrick Sullivan, 16, with Buena Park High School’s FFA, holds his two chickens during the OC Fair’s annual Junior Livestock Auction in Costa Mesa on Saturday, July 25, 2026. (Photo by Mindy Schauer, Orange County Register/SCNG)
Saturday’s Junior Livestock Auction was the culmination of their efforts; many also spent time at the fair answering questions and educating fairgoers about the animals.
The fair, which runs through Aug. 16, has animals on display in the Centennial Farm, where its residents include hens, goats, cows, peafowl, rabbits and more. Hoss and Howie are two oxen who live at the farm, and a pig cam lets the public keep tabs on new litters of piglets even when the fair isn’t running.
You can watch cow milking demonstrations at 2:15, 4:15 and 6:15 p.m daily.
There is a rotation of animals also on display in the Livestock area on the opposite end of the fairgrounds, with llamas, pygmy goats, miniature donkeys, Friesian horses and more visiting as various competitions and exhibits are held.
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See more about the schedules and other animal experiences at ocfair.com.