Since I've been married, my husband has talked about going to the Smithfield Livestock Auction. When he was younger, he went all the time to go bid on cows. I've never been to a livestock auction, or any type of auction, before. The Smithfield Livestock Auction is held every Thursday at 10:30, so on July 31, my husband and I made the trip to Smithfield. After researching about livestock auctions, and looking on the Smithfield's Livestock Auction website, I was surprised when I arrived. Farmers and ranchers from all over the valley come to find the best prices on livestock animals. Depending on the time of the year, people auction off different types of animals. They auctioned off hundreds of animals. At the auction I went to, they auctioned off dairy cows, beef steers, cow calf pairs, and horses.
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| Me at the auction (Photo credit Justin Howlett) |
Jay Rinderkinect, a frequent auction attender, explains "The auctions held every week and so lots of us come every week to get the best prices we can". The auctions can go from 2 to 4 hours depending on the amount of livestock and the heated arguments. While we arrived right as the auction was starting, the entire front row was filled with the 'usuals'. "The same 5 or so people come down and never miss the auction. Everyone knows all their names and all." (Rinderkinect). As I watched the bidding, I noticed that the people in the front row didn't even need to lift their hand, but rather move their hat or barely raise their papers to signal their bid. Because they come every week, the auctioneer easily recognizes their motions and doesn't even need to take down their name.
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| Livestock being auctioned (Photo credit: Me) |
Livestock Auctions are a vital part of the farming community. It's an easy and convenient way to buy and sell livestock. Sellers can easily choose which week the livestock is ready to be sold, and buyers can bid as to get the best price they can. These livestock auctions are important because it allows many farmers to see a variety of livestock, and allows them to bid on the only ones they want. When buying livestock outside of a livestock auction, farmers don't usually have the opportunity to view the cows before they are bought, or decide what price they want to pay. Livestock auctions allow farmers and ranchers to view the cows beforehand, and only buy healthy cows at the price they're willing to pay. It also allows interactions between farmers and ranchers.
As I sat in the crowd, I noticed many of the people saying hello to fellow farmers and talking about their farms. At the Smithfield Auction, there is even a small diner inside where people will grab a bite to eat and enjoy company of friends and neighbors. These auctions bring about a sense of community and also provide sellers and buyers with great deals.
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| The Livestock Holding Pens (Photo credit: Me) |
Livestock auctions such as these are also a tradition. In a FFA winning speech, given by David Macedo, he stressed the importance of livestock auctions and being able to continue the legacy of them. His speech explains the auctioning process, the experience, and the importance of livestock auctions. This is the URL to watch his speech. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GglPGgRhqtI&feature=g-upl
Livestock auctions have the unique ability to match livestock to a buyers needs. These auctions also provide a great farming experience. Even if you go just to enjoy the burgers at the diner, or hear the auctioneer speech a mile a minute, it's a great community experience.
Sources:
Rinderkinect, Jay. Personal interview. 31 July 2014.
"Smithfield Livestock Auction." Smithfield Livestock Auction. Web. 7 Aug. 2014. <http://www.smithfieldlivestock.com>.
"Livestock Auction 101." LoudounCountyFair. Web. 7 Aug. 2014. <http://loudouncountyfair.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/07/Auction101.pdf>.
Macedo, David. "Livestock Marketing Industry." Kansas City. Youtube. Web. 7 Aug. 2014. <https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GglPGgRhqtI&feature=g-upl>.
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