We LOVE writing buyer letters and you will too

I have been getting A LOT of calls/texts/messages on how in the heck to write a buyer letter? This question is a great one and I am so happy to help. HOWEVER (Here is the But), I will NOT write it for your child. I won't write it for my own son. I won't. I won't. I won't. Stop flipping asking. 

I will 

• show you where I found some great resources, 
• the type of information to include (and what to NOT include), 
• and who to send to.
  
  Since you are still reading, let's go over these points together. 
  

1. Here are some great resources. So first and foremost, if you are trying to find a buyer for the Clark County Junior Livestock Show that occurs here in Logandale, Nevada during the Clark County Fair. Then the best place you'd want to start is their website. This website gives A TON of information about the show, the auction date, add-on money options, etc. Granted, they don't go into the nitty-gritty's that I am sure you are wanting and getting confused on. (No shame, own the confusion. I do!). 
   
   -Buyer information/selling points. If you are wondering about some great information that isn't listed on the CCJLA website. Let me tell you what's up.
   






1. Did you know that the price a person pays per pound, that is ABOVE Fair Market Value is a Tax Deduction. CHa-Ching. This is awesome for buyers (or businesses) that are wanting to support AND get a pat on the back for their  taxes. 
2. The buyer gets recognized during the bidding process. Like the announcer will say who won the bid and who that buyer is. Along with any add-on money that was submitted before the Clark County Fair (the cut off is March 30 for announcing during the auction). However, the bonus money can be added after March 30 but I wouldn't guarantee "recognition" to that particular individual/business during the auction itself. 
3. If a business/buyer wants to purchase an animal (or more), they can also donate their meat to non-profit organizations such as Three-Square, Mesquite Food Bank, etc. And guess what?! They get like 100% write off for their taxes. Sweet! Some businesses will buy the meat and then distribute it to their employees or have an employee BBQ or use the meat as well. 
4. The buyer knows where their meat came from and how it was raised. That's a pretty simple and amazing selling point right there.
5. The price difference for a buyer to buy through a local livestock 4-H/FFA auction compared to purchasing their meat from a retail store is broke down on this sheet. I think it's super interesting (nerd-alert) and informative. 
6. Seeing the smile (or tears) that a child exhibits when their prized animal is sold to an amazing supporter! That's a pretty fun heart-warming feeling right there in itself.
   
   
2. Now that sounds like a heck of a deal for a buyer right?! The answer here is YES! So who can be a buyer? Put on your thinking caps folks and let's take a ride. 


1. Think outside the box. Hear me out. Don't go to the same places that every single other child in this small valley has gone to. Unless you are best friends with the owner or want your child to experience speaking to a manager/owner in a safe space with wonderful people. Our valley is small. Our valley businesses are hit up for every single school/non-profit/organization/sports/etc event that occurs within a 25 mile radius. Bless their souls. They probably won't go out and purchase your little Timmy's pig project this year. Bless you and bless them (my little loves say and bless little Timmy 😂). But let's be real. Think outside the box. Pull out your Christmas card list and think about those people on your annual card list that may be business owners, financially well-off, family members, friends, associates, etc. and send them a buyer letter. Seriously. Write down their addresses and I'll give more details later on in this post about other options. 
2. Any business or family can participate in the Auction by registering and obtaining a Buyers' Number. Buyers may combine to make single purchases. Buyers wanting to “pool” their money must complete additional paperwork indicating all the buyers and amounts to be paid by each. So if a couple of amazing family members want half of an animal, they can do that! This can be split between 2, 3, 4, etc buyers. So cool! 
3. It's a pretty fun auction as well and the buyers are treated with a great luncheon afterwards made by some hardworking individuals that always makes sure the buyers never leave hungry. Oh and along with the luncheon, buyers who register in advance get two fair passes to be used for the auction. That's pretty awesome as well! 
3. Why should a showman try and get a buyer when everyone else brings people to buy their animals? 

1. My gosh. I get this question so many times. Okay, so technically yes you DON'T have to have a buyer but let's get real here. If you have 1 buyer and five kids, then the potential buyer may want to support the five kids. BUT (always a but) that does not guarantee you will have a great bid for your kid's project. Buyers either come to purchase a specific 4-H members animal or they come to support the Auction in general. Which is amazing don't get me wrong, but I guess I would rather spend the time ahead of the stressful as is fair and have my kid be lined up earlier rather than later. 
2. When I say lined up, I mean a contract in hand between a buyer and a set price. Why? Why can't we go off someone's word? Okay, again. Real talk. People are wonderful and want to support our youth in their projects. But sometimes talk is cheap. Simple as that. A contract is a legally binding document between a buyer and the youth (technically the livestock board). So if your little Timmy meets with someone regarding being a buyer, don't just believe that they will buy. Follow up and bring them a contract or fill it out with them right there. If you do it online, awesome! If you have a physical paper printed out copy of the form, PLEASE fill out BOTH sides of this. You'd be surprised how many folks only do 1 side of the form....
3. Buyers are expected to pay for their purchases that day. Please please please remind your buyers of that so the lovely ladies with the livestock board aren't trying to track down buyers to pay for months. The longer they wait to pay, the longer your little Timmy gets his paycheck. Simple as that. 
4. Buyers are wonderful. Just know that at the end of the day this process is truly like running a business. Your son or daughter are using these experiences (both positive and negative) as learning opportunities for their very own business. I am 100% old school and believe in keeping records on the livestock projects and make (force) my oldest little love to do the same. He has actually learned so much by this. He can really step back and say what he's spent, where he's spent it, etc. All because of these important records. And guess what? Some buyers want to see this. In fact, I highly suggest bringing these to your first initial meeting with a potential buyer. The potential buyer can see how much/when/where the youth has done. Please DO NOT do this for your child. You can help but PLEASE for the love of all things holy do not do this for your child. Soapbox status here. It's okay if your child doesn't have the neatest writing. So what?! The buyer would rather see the kid doing it than the parent. Even if it's typed, a buyer can tell the difference. Just ask a few that have been around. They can tell who is doing the work and who isn't. Sorry end of rant. I seriously need to go take a nap! 
5. Moving on... What to put in a buyer letter. Sorry for all of my tangents. I am not 100% feeling great (no it's not Coronavirus) so I am a little shorter than I should be. We are all here to learn.... 
1. What to put in a buyer letter. Lacey's Lesson 101 
1. The CHILD should write a little bit about themselves. NO they do not need or should put specific details (home address for example) but I love to see how old is the kid, what 4-H club/FFA Chapter they are in and what projects do they do in 4-H/FFA (lamb, pig, archery, horse, sewing, etc). 
2. The dates of the fair and specifically the auction. Because generally that's what you want them there for ($$$$$$). 
3. You can talk about how they can be a buyer (you can use some of the points above) and if they aren't able to purchase your animal that another option to support the child's project is through add-on money. We attach this form within the letter so that it is already filled out and all they have to do is mail it in or THE CHILD can come pick it up. Make THE CHILD fill out their name and tag number. This isn't hard. They can do this. 
4. If they bought or supported the year before, thank them! Thank yous are seriously so important. Don't forget about these after the fair. Seriously don't. I won't lie, if we don't get a thank you card for bonus money/graduation money/wedding presents/etc. We are awful and stubborn and won't support the kid and usually the family beyond that experience. Be mad. I don't care. Man, I am still grouchy. Sorry y'all. 
5. Personalize the letters. THE CHILD should sign the letter. Our oldest, he signs every letter and draws his registered brand on it as well. His choice. He'd probably try to draw his Dad's famous duck and donkey on each one, but we try to steer him from that one! HA
6. Add a picture. It's not the 1980's. You have a million pictures of your kid on your phone. Upload it. Print it. Either attach it or place it within the letter body. We have a few pictures of the kid and his projects on the letter. Who doesn't want to see pictures of cute kids and their animals? Say, no one! So if you have a cute kid, you are lucky! If you don't... Well I'm not sure you should be thinking that or probably reading this if you do think that! HA Again, tired. 
7. Your contact information. If your little Timmy has their own cell phones as a word of advice, don't put that number on there. I wouldn't feel comfortable with someone other than close family/friends calling my child directly. You probably feel the same way. Yes, I said this is THE CHILD's project. But I just don't feel comfortable with giving out children's contact information. I will answer my phone and if the potential buyer would like to meet with my child, then yes we will arrange it. Also, my kid is awful on the phone so why would I want him to have that side without proper guidance? I don't. Same with email addresses, just put yours and relay messages to your kid. 
   
6. So little Timmy wrote the letters, made the calls. You sent your kid into so many businesses that you have business cards and random items from a million different places. But no luck? That happens. It's okay. Just breath. That happens. I swear to you. Your child will not be in the arena without a buyer. But again, you might not get the amount that is needed for your child to make a profit to put towards next year. That happens. So let's be real here. If you know that the bare minimum is $X a pound to break even, call me old fashioned but then that is what needs to happen. So you can't find a buyer and obviously your child isn't guaranteed $X per pound. Here's the deal. You are the parent. Sometimes, you will have to eat it. Both figuratively and literally. What I mean is, sign up as a buyer. Plan on when the auctioneer starts the bidding for your little Timmy, you make sure it gets to the point of "no return" for your child's project and buy the dang thing. Take the financial loss and fill up your freezer. That happens. Remember, anything above fair market value is a taxable donation. If you don't want to take the meat? Donate it (hey there larger tax donation). Or you can do like my folks did, the animals lived long (LONG) lives as pets. Lovely little pets. Granted, I would not suggest this if your little Timmy shows pigs. Pigs can get incredibly huge and disgusting. Seriously. Take my word on it. Our summer heat and a pig is not a fun combination.... 
   
7. Little Timmy wrote their letters and your child made the calls and you got a call back! What next? What's the next step? Make your kid get into their 4-H official/FFA official dress, yes they will hate it and make them meet with their potential buyer. Not you only. Again, the child's business here is what needs to be on the line. When you arrive with your child to their meeting they (the child) should have his/her record book up to date. Again, this is a huge part of this project and keeping records are important (soapbox). Prep your child to be ready to be engaged in the conversation and attentive. Yes, they are shy and scared but the more they do it the better they are (literally my oldest little love is sitting next to me and told me to write that, he's 10 y'all). The buyer's aren't like the show "Shark Tank" but rather kind people that just want to hear about the kid's project and what they've learned. No grilling and being mean to the kids. If they are, you'll probably want to rethink them as a buyer for future years or something like that... And they probably wouldn't buy the animal anyway haha. My oldest little love said that "sometimes in his meetings they will ask how much you need to sell your animal for" this includes both the per pound price and/or the total amount. Prep your kid on this. Funny story, my oldest little love walked into a buyer meeting and told them that he needed to make at least $15 a pound (on a 1300 pound steer) to break even. I almost died right then and there. No lie. He had the confidence that I had to admire but afterwards we had a discussion on yes, that was the exact amount to break even of ALL costs and both steers but not the total to present. We as his parents would be eating the costs of certain things his first year. Good for him on keeping records. Bad on us for not preparing for a reasonable number for him to pitch. 
   
   
8. So how do you figure out how much to ask for? This is a common question! Here is how we do the math. You can agree or disagree but this makes sense to me: 
1. Price of the animal + Price of grain + Price of next year's animal= Total amount to ask for. Take that number (the total amount) and divide it by how many pounds you are hoping your animal will be by the fair. Be real on this, a 1,000 pound steer versus a 1300 pound steer will bring in two very different numbers, so be realistic on how much your animal should weigh by fair. 
2. Example: 
• $1,000 Price of Animal
• $700    Price of Grain/Equipment
• $1,000 Next year's animal
• =$2,700
• 2,700/140 pound Lamb= $18 per pound. 
• Yikes. That's a huge amount and unless YOUR kid hustles on an amazing buyer. Your child better hustle for add-on money. 
• Again this a business 😀✏👣💲💲💲💲💲

Okay. Phew this was incredibly long one. I truly hope this helps someone. Anyone. Don't wait. Do NOT wait until a week before fair and try to find someone. You are glutton for punishment when that happens. 

So here is a recap:

-YOUR child should write letters. Lots and LOTS of letters. 

-YOUR child should then go in person and meet with potential buyers/businesses for BOTH buyer or add-on money options. 

-YOU should think outside the box for potential people to send a letter to. Have casual conversations with your kids. They probably have some good ideas of people that you haven't even thought of. Oh on that note, think of election years! They are seriously the best years to seek political support/buyers of those running for offices. 

-YOUR child needs to complete their financial records. This is a learning experience as a business, which is THEIR business. Remind yourself and them of that. 

-It is always a learning experience for both the child, parent, and buyer. You are not alone in this journey and seek answers early. DON'T wait until right before the fair. #aintnobodygotimeforthat especially volunteers!!!!! 

Have you had any great luck with finding buyers? Any funny stories? Any advice? Share below! Feel free to share this blog post with other struggling first year parents out there. May the 4-H Force or FFA Fever be with you and know that YOU GOT THIS!!!! 

Please share my blog with anyone that may need the extra LOVE!