Behind the Sale Scene GLIMPSE OF WHAT GOES ON BEFORE BULLS ENTER THE RING AT CAL POLY by CCA Associate Director of Communications Maureen LaGrande Going once, going twice sold! Before the familiar auctioneers chant is pronounced students who sign up to be a part of the Cal Poly Bull Test Enterprise have a few items to check off their to do list. After months of preparation, planning and promoting, sale day for the 66th Annual Cal Poly Bull Test approaches in early October. While the weekend of the sale goes by in a flash, the students who put on the production have been working tirelessly on the details of the sale since March. With close to 120 bulls consigned annually, there is always work to be done. What many who attend sale day don’t see is all that must be done behind the scenes leading up to the muchanticipated event.
WHO RUNS THE SHOW?
Students who are eager to learn and assist with aspects of the upcoming sale start the enterprise at the beginning of spring quarter. Enterprises are courses that students take to apply what they have learned in their studies to real world situations. To join the enterprise students must fill out an application identifying what committee they would like to serve on as well as an explanation of why they want to be a part of the enterprise. Each committee focuses solely on a certain feature of the bull test. These committees include research, nutrition/ health, social media, marketing, event planning, sponsorship and merchandise and the newly added bull prep. While the bulls are the star of the show, the planning of 56 California Cattleman September 2022
the sale, clean up, set up, educational day and tradeshow are key events that must be carefully thought out. Each committee creates plans, delegating what must be done to be ready for sale day. Zach McFarlane, Ph.D., Assistant Professor, San Luis Obispo shares that the enterprise has a great group of students willing to give it their all. Emily Ehrke, Arbuckle, the event planning committee manager ,has been on top of scheduling and making plans for the sale and field day, shares McFarlane. Over the weekend, buyers and consignors have the chance to attend a dinner hosted by Cal Poly’s Young Cattlemen’s Association, participate in an educational field day and view the bulls leading up to the sale. Besides putting on a successful production, the goal of the enterprise is to provide an educational component as well as a hands-on experience to those who participate. McFarlane, along with co-advisor Aaron Lazanoff, San Luis Obispo, oversee the students throughout the duration of the test. “As an advisor it’s important to make sure the students understand the entire process,” shares McFarlane.