Rediscovering the Charm of Livestock Auctions
My Connection with Livestock
My wife and I have been raising a few Jersey steers. Traditionally, we would sell them as halves and quarters of hanging beef to our loved ones. However, this fall, for reasons I can't quite put my finger on, I lacked the motivation to go through the usual process. Perhaps my recent cancer treatment had something to do with it. Regardless, our four steers had grown significantly and were thriving on our grain.Sharing this dilemma with our neighbors led to a surprising offer. They assured us that they could transport our steers to the nearest livestock auction barn.
I was understandably hesitant but was quickly put at ease. Their willingness to help was truly remarkable.
The Day of the Auction
On the appointed day, I locked the selected quartet of Jerseys in our barn. Neighbor Paul arrived promptly with his pickup and a stock trailer that seemed as large as a mobile home. There was more than enough space for our steers.Paul demonstrated remarkable precision as he backed up to our barn door. His skill was on par with docking two orbiting spacecraft. I, on the other hand, would have taken several attempts to achieve even half of his accuracy.
The steers walked into the stock trailer with an air of nonchalance, as if it were a daily routine for them. Paul and I then set off for the auction barn.
Arriving at the Auction Market
Upon reaching Pipestone Livestock Auction Market, we had to wait in a long line of pickups and stock trailers. But this wasn't a bad thing as Paul and I found plenty to talk about to pass the time.When our turn came, Paul backed up to the unloading chute with an astonishing level of precision. It was as if he could measure it in hundredths of an inch. If I had been in charge, I would have surely embarrassed myself in front of the other drivers.
The Auction Experience
The steers unloaded themselves with the same nonchalance as seasoned veterans. Paul and I decided to stay and watch how they would sell. We parked the trailer and entered the auction barn.The inside of the sale barn had a distinct smell that brought back memories. It was a combination of wood chips and fresh cattle manure. With some time to spare, we made our way to the cafeteria and I treated us to lunch.
The special that day was their hot beef commercial. It was simple comfort food at its best - two slices of whole wheat bread filled with fork-tender roast beef, topped with a scoop of mashed potatoes and smothered in rich, brown gravy. We both ordered the special and dug in. I was pleasantly surprised to finish the entire entree, which was a small victory for me as I had been struggling with my appetite due to my recovery.
Watching the Auction
Just as we finished eating, the auction was about to begin. Paul and I found seats in the bleachers and watched the parade of cattle making their way through the sale ring.We had a bit of fun guessing the weight of the cattle. Paul was quite accurate, but I was always off by at least 100 pounds compared to their actual weights. It was a testament to his experience raising beef cattle while I was more accustomed to dealing with little Jerseys.
When a dozen fattened Holstein steers were brought into the ring, they seemed enormous compared to our Jerseys. It was a sight to behold.
The Sale of Our Steers
I had a specific price in mind for our steers, but so did the cattle buyers. In the end, we likely reached a middle ground, which is the essence of a successful compromise.I picked up the cattle check and we made our way home. The day had been a truly pleasant experience.
The only thing that could have made it better would be enjoying another serving of that delicious hot beef sandwich.
Jerry's book, "Dear County Agent Guy" can be found at www.workman.com and in bookstores nationwide.