March 2012 Articles

Archives by Months

Just Rambling

A trip to the Fort Worth Stockyards in Fort Worth, Texas will carry you back in time as you visit the old cow town. The buildings have been so magnificently restored, and in the Stockyards Museum, you can see Old West artifacts and read stories about the West and how cattle marketing was handled in years past. You get to view the stockyards themselves and see a re-enactment of a cattle drive through the streets of the old cow town. As I stood on the street, I could only imagine the activity that once went on in and around the Fort Worth stockyards—the sounds and smells of thousands of cattle in the yards, the cowboys working the yards on horseback, auctioneers selling cattle daily and all the activity that went on in the process of marketing cattle. As I stepped back into the Fort Worth Stockyards main building, the reality of today’s cattle marketing was quite evident, as I saw the cattle marketing of load lots through the Superior Livestock Video Auction. In 1987, Mr. Jim Odle and Mr. Buddy Jeffers through Superior Livestock Auction introduced satellite video marketing to the nation’s livestock industry and forever changed the way load lots of cattle are marketed. Superior has grown to become the largest livestock auction in the United States, marketing well over one million head of cattle annually. As you go through the Fort Worth Stockyards Museum, you will read that a record 1.6 million head of live cattle were marketed through the stockyards in 1945, and then in 2008, Superior Auctions marketed 1.9 million head through the stockyards without a hood ever entering the premises. As a result of this innovation in marketing cattle, Mr. Jim Odle and the late Buddy Jeffers were inducted into the Texas Cowboy Hall of Fame in January of this year. Congratulations to Mr. Jim Odle and Mrs. Buddy Jeffers, who accepted the award for the late Mr. Jeffers. In the early morning hours of February 10, my wife, Donnette, my seventeen year old daughter, Blair, and I arrived at the Hyatt hotel, which is a part of the Fort Worth stockyards complex. Our reason for coming was twofold. Blair is a member of the 2011-2012 Louisiana Young Ag Producers Program through the LSU AgCenter, and her commodity of choice is beef cattle. Her mentors for this project are Bob and Judy Riser of Downsville, LA. Bob, Judy, their son, Seth and his wife Julie, along with son Jared, operate Riser Farms, which is a family cattle and poultry operation. Blair is required to work a minimum of 50 hours with her mentors in all aspects of the cattle operation. Bob and Judy invited Blair to come with them to the February 10th Superior Livestock Auction, where they were selling a large percentage of their 2012 calf crop with delivery for later in the year. In addition to the sale, our good friend and one of the top Superior Reps. Rayburn Smith, was being interviewed on the Superior Sunrise program before the start of the auction. This program and the sale are both shown on the RFD channel, on Dish 231 and Direct TV 345. Rayburn and his wife, Emily, along with their daughter, Carrie and husband, Benjamin, daughter, Laura, and son, Joel, have a ranch just Northeast of Natchitoches, LA. Rayburn is known throughout Louisiana as a true cattlemen and auction man with involvement in the Red River Livestock Auction located in Armstead, LA, and as a representative with Superior Livestock Auction since 1988. At the February 10th Auction, Rayburn along with other Reps. that work with him, had a total of 99 loads of cattle for sale from Louisiana. As we walked into the Superior Livestock Auction studio, I found it quite different that I had expected. The atmosphere was cordial and warm, almost as if we were part of one big family. After the Superior Sunrise interview with Rayburn and Auctioneer, Ralph Wade, our flag was honored and Mr. Jim Odle welcomed everyone as the auction began. A total of 36,000 head were scheduled to be offered for sale, with approximately 6,000 of this offering from Louisiana. Superior Livestock Auction not only had a good offering of cattle from Louisiana, they also had a large number of Louisiana producers who came to watch their cattle sale. These producers didn’t come empty-handed either—they brought sausage, boudin, brisket, boudin balls, bake beans, king cake, homemade peanut brittle and pound cake. There was no excuse for anyone to leave hungry, and based on the amount of food that was brought, I don’t believe anyone at this auction failed to get enough to eat. The auction didn't stop—buyers, auctioneers, sellers, and onlookers like my family and I, ate in shifts. It reminded me of a big family reunion when you don’t know everyone there, but you still feel a connection with the people around you. Thanks to all Louisiana producers for the hospitality and friendship.This trip was primarily made so Blair could learn more about the marketing of cattle, but it turned out to be quite an educational event, not only for Blair, but for Donnette and myself as well. As the old saying goes, I didn’t have a puppy in the race or a cow in the sale, but it was very exciting to see Bob and Judy and the other Louisiana producers sell their cattle for record prices, and to see Rayburn recognized for the outstanding job he does as a Superior Livestock Auction Representative. Rayburn and Emily’s daughters, son-in-law and son are all involved with the business, and as Rayburn so aptly put it, “that is what it is all about—family.” I fully agree, Rayburn. Thanks to Bob and Judy for being such great mentors for Blair and helping her to learn more about all aspects of the cattle business. Congratulations Rayburn for the recognition you received and rightly deserve, and thanks to both you and Emily for making Blair, Donnette, and I feel so welcomed at the February 10th Superior Livestock Auction. A special thanks as well to Mr. Jim Odle for taking the time to meet Blair, talk with her, and for interrupting your lunch to allow your photo to be taken with Blair, Bob, Judy, Emily, and Rayburn. It was a truly enjoyable and educational day and a great cattle sale—a day and sale to be remembered. Thank you! - Van Bennett