Butler County 4-H club members and FFA chapter members will present their livestock project animals for sale to the public at the 35th annual Junior Livestock Sale at 7 p.m. Thursday at the Butler Farm Show.

This year about 50 steers, 100 hogs and 75 lambs will be sold to the highest bidder. In addition, poultry, meat rabbits and market goats will be presented for sale.

The order of sale will be lambs, rabbits, beef, poultry, hogs and goats. Buyers from previous years interested in purchasing animals again this year should note the change in sale order from 2011.

Livestock projects such as hogs, lambs, steers, rabbits, poultry and goats offer youth more than a blue ribbon at the Farm Show or some extra spending money when their animal is sold. Responsibility is a major part of owning and showing an animal.

In addition to the knowledge gained about animal care, skills such as responsibility, money management and sportsmanship are a part of the project experience that will last for a lifetime.

The animal depends on the 4-H or FFA member for food, shelter and care. The day-to-day care and the extra effort required to produce a top quality market animal to show and sell requires a commitment of time and energy.

Money management is also a part of livestock projects. Purchasing the animal, the food it eats, bedding, barn space rental, hauling bills and veterinary fees all must be recorded, totaled and subtracted from the final selling price.

The difference is either profit or loss.

Many youths have found that when hours of tending and caring for an animal are divided into the profit, the minimum wage made by their friends working behind the fast food counter looks good.

Animal projects also teach members about ration and nutrition, hygiene and veterinary procedures, skills in showing and preparing animals for show and sportsmanship. Winning is not always possible, but being in the ring helps make the experience.

Anyone interested in purchasing a top quality market animal is invited to participate in the Junior Livestock Sale. Animals offered for sale will be on display throughout the week of the Butler Farm Show.

For more information concerning the Junior Livestock Sale, contact the Butler County Extension Office, 101 Motor Pool Way, Butler, PA 16001. The telephone number is 724-287-4761.

Zoning Provisions

Penn State Extension will be hosting a special webinar entitled “A Blow to Act 13?: The Impact of the Commonwealth Court’s Decision on Local Zoning and Natural Gas Development in Pennsylvania” from 1 to 2 p.m. Thursday. This webinar is free and open to the public and will be of special interest to municipal officials and attorneys.

Last week, a Pennsylvania appellate court rejected the Pennsylvania legislature’s preemption of significant elements of local zoning under Act 13.

The ruling has been appealed to the State Supreme Court, but municipal officials and others are uncertain about the immediate impact of the decision.

Attorney Steve Saunders with Saunders Law LLC in Scranton will look at traditional zoning in Pennsylvania and oil and gas development before and after Act 13, the legal arguments presented to the Commonwealth Court, and the Court’s rationale for its decision.

Possible outcomes and how local governments should react will be discussed.

To participate in the webinar, please log in to http://meeting.psu.edu/pscems/.

No registration is necessary. If you have questions, please contact Carol Loveland at cal24@psu.edu.

This material is submitted by Donna Zang, extension director, and the staff of the Penn State Extension office at the Sunnyview Nursing and Rehabilitation Center complex.