Although we're new to showing our own steers, we've bought 10-15 animals at our local 4-H/FFA event each year. I spend all year bugging friends, associates, distant relatives to buy an animal. They end up not wanting to sit for 8 hours, so they mostly let me buy for them. I wait until a kid comes along who isn't seeing much action in the pen and quietly try to help him out. The kid's happy, the buyers love the meat, the butcher loves the business, we all survive. OUr own company buys several animals, too. (WE're not rich, just truly thankful for 4-H/FFA).
Those kids see me in the same back bleacher every year, eight hours. Each one brings me a basket filled with stuff. I could open a BBQ store, a candle shop, or a bakery. (Honestly, I wish someone would give me a stadium seat.) But I don't want them to spend lots of $$.
What I REALLY wish I could get, and hardly ever do, is a follow-up letter from these kids. And they KNOW I'll be there. Our construction company has been in the top three buyers for many years, plus the others I represent, and only one or two kids a year write an invite, no one calls for an appt. Buyer info is available from any leader.
Since 2000, one kid has kept me posted on what he's raising, how it's doing. He tells us what he did with the prior year's proceeds, what college or goal he's saving up for. Sometimes he sends jerky (from the elk he kills with the bow we helped him buy). I will not allow a year to go buy that I won't buy that kid's animal, even if its a three-legged calf wwith 2 heads.
So simple, but no one believes how far he can get on courtesy and five minutes of personal attention. Skip the fancy basket. Come introduce yourself, get my address, and follow up. You'll own me forever. ;-)