SALE REPORT
YON FAMILY FARMS HOSTS 25TH ANNUAL BULL SALE
February 21, 2015
Ridge Spring, S.C.
The 25th Anniversary Sale went off without a hitch � no snow, sleet, ice, rain or earthquakes and for that we are thankful. We are also thankful for 25 years of working with commercial cattlemen and Angus breeders in the Southeast and beyond � cattle people are truly the salt of the earth and we consider it a privilege to provide many of them with bulls. The friendships made and the people we meet in the cattle business are more important than any animal we might produce. That is why the 25th Anniversary Sale was bittersweet for our family as two days prior to the sale, 22-year-old Cory Watt, who was like a brother to our children, passed away following a seven year battle with cancer. Cory was serving as the Chair of the National Junior Angus Board of Directors and was as fine of a young person as we have ever known.
To honor Cory's memory, the Lot 1 cow in the sale was sold to a group of Angus friends who pooled together over $15,000 to purchase the cow with all proceeds going to the Cory Watt Fund. They then, donated the cow back and she sold to Express Ranches in Yukon, Okla., for $10,000. The entire proceeds (over $25,000) from Lot 1 will go to benefit the Cory Watt Fund and family. We sincerely appreciate all the support shown for this worthy cause and the kindness shown to all of us who loved Cory at this time of loss.
While we were blessed with good weather, our neighbors just to the north had extreme cold and snow the week of our sale, preventing many of them from making the trip to South Carolina. As this was the case, there was an extra good turnout on the tele-auction line and on the internet bidding option, provided by DV Auction.
The 25th annual sale was held at the farm in Ridge Spring, S.C. on February 21, 2015. A total of 148 bulls sold, with 129 registered yearling Angus bulls selling for an average of $6,453, while 17 yearling SimAngus bulls averaged $6,382. Fall cow/calf pairs, most confirmed bred back AI, were a welcome addition to the sale offering for the 2nd year and the bidding was brisk on the 31 Angus pairs that averaged $6,685. Two SimAngus pairs were also sold for an average of $5,500. Thirteen SimAngus bred heifers averaged $4,585. The majority of the females sold to buyers in the Southeast who have Angus and SimAngus operations of their own, with very little price difference in any of the lots.
Demand was strong throughout the bull sale. Topping the sale was Lot 142, a Sim Angus bull, for $17,500 for 2/3 interest. He went to the Kenny Nolen whose operation is in Floyd, Va. Tying for second high bulls at $10,000 each were Lot 48 and Lot 56, both Angus bulls who sold to Peter O'Brien in Scottsville, Va., and Bill Rehkamp in Florence, Ky., respectively. Eight bulls sold for $9,000. Bull prices remained steady throughout the day, with bulls selling for $2,750 and up to tabulate an overall average of $6,396. Bulls were affordable and sold in all price ranges, with around half the bulls selling to repeat customers. Bulls sold into fourteen states, including South Carolina, North Carolina, Georgia, Alabama, West Virginia, Virginia, Florida, Ohio, Texas, Kansas, Colorado, South Dakota, Oklahoma, and Kentucky. The entire sale was broadcast live on the internet on DV Auctions, represented by Wade Fisher, allowing active bidders from around the country to participate. Wes Weeks handled the telephone bidding during the auction, which was extremely active at this sale. Auctioneers for the event were Col. Mike Jones and Col. Darren Carter.
Buyers and visitors enjoyed the traditional Chili lunch prepared and served up by the Yon's neighbors. The sale is truly a community event with many neighbors pitching in to extend some of the hospitality from the Ridge. As always, former and current employees, interns, family members and friends worked in the back and got the cattle loaded out with ease, despite muddy conditions.
Yon Family Farms hosts two annual sales - the third Saturday in February and the last Saturday of October (NEW DATE!!) each year in Ridge Spring. Complete results of each sale are available on the website. In the sale coming up on October 31st, forage-developed, coming 2-year-old bulls and yearling bulls will be available, as well as bred cows, cow-calf pairs, bred and open heifers. You may contact the Yons to be added to their mailing list at [email protected] or (803) 685-5048.
