Saturday, August 2 • 5:30 p.m.
During the Lancaster County Super Fair at the Sandhills Global Event Center, Currency Pavilion
The Lancaster County 4‑H & FFA Purple Ribbon Market Livestock Premium Auction is a way for the community to reward purple ribbon market animal exhibitors. Instead of animals being sold, “premium” cash rewards are given by individuals and businesses. The success of the auction is dependent on donations and buyers.
What is a Premium Auction?
The 4-H & FFA Purple Ribbon Market Livestock Premium Auction is a longstanding tradition at the Lancaster County Super Fair. It recognizes 4-H and FFA members for raising and exhibiting high-quality market livestock while building leadership skills, agricultural knowledge, and a strong work ethic. The Premium Auction is set up to reward purple ribbon market animal exhibitors. Since no animal is actually sold in the auction, the term “premium” is used to denote a cash reward given by individuals and businesses of the community.
How Do Contributions Work?
Livestock exhibitors support our community, let’s support the youth in return. Contributions are welcome from all business owners, agricultural advocates, public leaders, parents and grandparents.
- 90% of the proceeds go to the livestock exhibitor.
- Additionally, 10% of donations help provide scholarships given to seniors that have been active in the show ring and the organization.
- The Livestock Boosters financially support the county’s livestock judging team, county-level contest and contribute to related trainings.
Eligibility
4‑H & FFA Market entries in Beef, Sheep, Meat Goat and Swine are eligible for the auction. Exhibitors will sell one unit in the auction. A unit is described as:
- 1 Market Beef (steer or heifer)
- 1 Sheep or Pen of Three
- 1 Meat Goat or Pen of Three
- 1 Swine or Pen of Three
In the event of an exhibitor having one or more qualifying exhibits, the exhibitor can elect to combine the units into one sellable lot/unit (example: champion swine and champion sheep).
Eligible units are defined in the 4-H & FFA Fair Book.
2026 Auction Order
5:30 p.m.
- Purple Ribbon Row Social — Grand Champion and Reserve Beef, Sheep, Swine and Meat Goat; as well as Champion Second-Year Bucket Calf Exhibitors will be invited to display their animal in the “purple row” near the auction arena. Auction supporters, including potential buyers, will be invited to visit with the 4‑H & FFA youth and their projects.
6:00 p.m.
- 2026 Scholarship Recognition
- Sheep
- Swine
- Meat Goat
- Beef
Become a Donor
Help reward purple ribbon market animal exhibitors. Thank you for supporting youth in the livestock industry!
Donor Benefits
Purple Banner Level
Contributions of at least $1000
- Personalized recognition during auction.
- Logo & name in the 4‑H & FFA program during respective livestock shows.
- Logo & name on banner displayed during 4‑H & FFA livestock show.
- Individual banners hung in auction ring.
- Gift to display in a business or home.
- All contributions are tax deductible.
- All will be listed in the NEBLINE and on the Lancaster County 4‑H website.
Friends of the Boosters
Contributions under $1000
- Logo & name in the 4-H & FFA program during respective livestock shows.
- Name on banner displayed during 4‑H & FFA livestock show.
- Gift to display in a business or home.
- All contributions are tax deductible.
- All will be listed in the NEBLINE and on the Lancaster County 4‑H website.
Premiums Contributed During Auction
- Social media and other publication recognition following the auction.
- Gift to display in a business or home.
- Social media and other publication recognition following the auction.
- Gift to display in a business or home.
- All contributions are tax deductible.
- All will be listed in the NEBLINE and on the Lancaster County 4-H website.
2025 Contributors
Purple Banner Level Sponsors
- Farmers Cooperative of Dorchester
- Beatrice 77 Livestock Market
- Jay & Brenda Wilkinson
- Cooper Specialty Feed
- Anderson Ford - Lincoln
- Reproductive Services
- Brent & Jackie Nisely
- H&L Mulhbach Construction
- Jeff & Anne Johnson
- Stevens Creek Mowing
- Lancaster National Club Calf Sale (Scott Heinrich & Ben Walbrecht)
Friends of the Boosters
- Waverly Grange
- Five Alarm Farms
- Squire & Lisa Johnson
- Ponca Valley Show Goats
- Mussmann Ag Services Inc
- NexGen Ag Partners
- Lancaster County Farm Bureau
- Rembolt Ludtke Law Firm
- Home Agency
- Frontier Cooperative
- Ryan & Judy Terwilliger
- Mueller Farms
- Arrow Capital
- JJ & Julia Plugge
- Beach Seed
For more information, contact Auction Committee Chair Julia Plugge at julia.plugge@gmail.com or 402-450-0706.
2026 Sale Committee: Julia Plugge, Scott Heinrich, Ben Walbrecht, Tom Mueller and Mike Lockee
Ag Society Board Members: John Cooper, Ron Dowding and Kendra Ronnau