A livestock landmark in the hometown of the Pony Express will close the gates for a final time this year.
The St. Joseph Stockyards is shutting down after 134 years of operation. Local veterinarian Adam Acklin has worked and sold livestock through the facility. Reminiscing about his own experience working the stockyards and also selling his own cattle, he tells Brownfield Ag News that the St. Joseph Stockards is unique in that it’s one of the last remaining river markets.
“The camaraderie that goes along with it and healthy competition – we all like healthy competition.” Acklin said, “That’s what . . . ranchers are working towards: whenever your cattle walk into the ring and people remember your name. And it’s happened for a lot of people at St. Joe.”
The final sale will be May 19, 2021.