WINNEMUCCA - "This is the highest price for which cattle have ever been sold at our Winnemucca auction," said Jim Davis, head of Superior Livestock Auction, held July 30 - 31 in Winnemucca. Davis didn't have a total for how much money changed hands at the auction, but said, "If you take 107,000 head of cattle and multiply it by an average selling price of $1,500 a head you'd come pretty close." ($160.5 million)
"Cattle numbers were down," said Davis, noting that because prices are high for cattle all over the country, some people sold early. He added that drought and fires were factors contributing to early sales as well.
Superior Livestock Auction proved it can still bring in droves of ranchers from around the West, not just Nevada. The parking lot across from the convention center west hall was full of out-of-state vehicles. Idaho and Oregon were the most prevalent, with plates from California, New Mexico, Arizona, Utah, Washington, Montana, and even one Ohio plate.
Interestingly, not all of those in town for the livestock auction were here to sell cattle. Some, like Chet and Carol Carnahan from Richland, Ore., were here just to see, in person, how a video auction works. The Carnahans, who've been ranching for 20 years, said they'd watched this and other auctions on TV, but this year they knew some of the ranchers who were selling cattle at the auction and wanted to come see it in person. Carol was carefully noting the prices paid for each lot of cattle sold at the auction.
"We didn't have enough cattle to ship before," she comented, adding, "now we do." The Carnahans said their son-in-law and daughter are taking over the ranch, and have already had some experience with video auctions, and may participate in the Superior Livestock Auction in a future year.
Some local ranchers were at the convention center this Wednesday and Thursday to sell their cattle through the Superior Livestock Auction, but others, like Will and Katie DeLong were there on Thursday afternoon just to socialize with others in the industry.
"We normally have cattle in the auction, but this year we sold earlier this spring because of the drought," said Katie. Though the prices they got for the cattle weren't as high as those at the auction, they also didn't have to try to feed those cattle all summer.
"It's a great sale," Katie said, referring to the high prices for which cattle were selling.
"The people selling are happy; the people buying are probably not as happy," she commented.
Country Catering handled the food for much of the event and noted it was a big job and they were enjoying it.
Superior Livestock treated those at the auction and others related to the industry to a steak dinner Thursday night, followed by performances by Moe Bandy, Waylon Thibodeaux, Joni Harms and the Cajuns.
The Superior Livestock Auction used to be held over five days in Winnemucca. Last year, the auction time period was reduced to three days, and this year, just two days. Earlier sales and less feed means fewer cattle, said Davis, who was still very happy with the turnout and the sale. "This was our 22nd year in Winnemucca," said Davis, adding, "God willing, we'll be back for many more."
[[In-content Ad]]
