June 24, 2026

Dear PNWJLA Buyers and Supporters,   

The PNWJLA Board would like to inform our buyers and supporters of an important change affecting this year's auction and small animals. 

The Washington State Department of Agriculture (WSDA) recently denied our slaughter permit for small animals (chickens, rabbits, and turkeys). Current WSDA regulations require processing through a facility that holds both a WSDA food processing license and a USDA co-packing exemption. At this time, there are no facilities on or near the Olympic Peninsula that meet those requirements.  

  After extensive discussions, research, and consultation with the WSDA, the PNWJLA Board has implemented a one-time exemption that will allow small animal exhibitors to participate in a non-terminal donation auction. This approach was chosen in recognition of the fact that exhibitors had already purchased their animals and invested time and effort into projects that were already underway. The Board felt it was important to provide these youth with the opportunity to complete and showcase the projects they have worked on throughout the year while remaining in compliance with state and federal regulations. 

What does this mean for buyers?

• Small animal exhibitors will still complete all project requirements and participate in the fair as usual. 

• During the auction, exhibitors with rabbit, poultry, and turkey projects will enter the ring once and receive a donation through the traditional auction process. 

• Buyers will be supporting the youth and their projects, but ownership of the animal will not transfer. 

• All proceeds from the sale will go directly to the exhibitor, with no commission retained by PNWJLA. 

• The animals will return home with their exhibitors following the fair. 

We sincerely appreciate the continued support of our buyers and community partners. Your investment in these young people and their projects is what makes the PNWJLA auction possible, and we are grateful for your understanding as we navigate this unexpected change. 

Please note: This change applies only to small animals (chickens, rabbits, and turkeys). The auction process for large animals (beef, swine, sheep, and goats) will continue to operate as it has in previous years. 

Please do not hesitate to contact us with questions.  

Pacific Northwest Junior Livestock Auction Board – pnwjlauction@gmail.com

President – Torrie Lewis – 360.461.2804 

Vice President – Ivy Cristion – 360.797.3352 

Secretary – Cara Heckenlaible – 360.797.3025 

Treasurer – Megan Miller – 360.477.8307