08/15/2026
Dear Business Owner & Community Member,
Hey! My name is Balen Steach, and I’m a sophomore at Molalla High School. I wanted to share a quick story about how I got started with showing sheep, and invite you out to this year's Clackamas County Fair Junior Livestock Auction!
Last summer, right after graduating 8th grade, I showed up to fair week knowing pretty much nobody. I was definitely a little nervous, but the Molalla FFA chapter took me under their wing right away. They taught me so much about showing sheep, helped me feel like part of the team, and I even ended up placing in showmanship! That experience meant so much to me that I decided to run for an officer spot, and now I serve as our chapter’s Sentinel.
This year is my second time raising a sheep, and I’m working with a Hampshire- Suffolk wether named Optimus Prime. Working hard to finance my own project has taught me a ton about responsibility, hard work, and putting others' needs above my own, and I want to use what I’ve learned to inspire other kids to give raising an animal a shot. I’d love for you to consider supporting my project this year.
Supporting local FFA members is 100% tax-deductible, and you can help out in a few different ways:
Bid on Optimus Prime: Come out to the auction, bid on my sheep, or help raise the price so I can have a great sale!
Make an Add-On Donation: If you don't want to buy a whole animal, you can leave a direct monetary donation (an "add-on") for my project instead.
Signing up as a buyer is completely free and includes a parking pass, 2 tickets to the fair, and a catered lunch!
Date: Saturday, August 22, 2026. Free Buyer's Lunch: 11:00 AM – 2:00 PM. Auction Starts: 12:00 PM (Noon)
Location: Clackamas County Fairgrounds (Canby, OR)
I appreciate your support of local youth and helping me keep my FFA journey going!
Thanks,
Balen Steach
Molalla HS FFA Sentinel
