Beef Expo tops $1 million in sales for sixth year in a row

31st annual Kentucky beef showcase attracts 213 consignors

LOUISVILLE (March 9, 2017)—Sales at the 31st annual Kentucky Farm Bureau Beef Expo, March 3-5, exceeded $1 million for the sixth consecutive year.

“At a time when beef cattle prices are well below their peak of recent years, these numbers say something about the Beef Expo’s position as an elite beef cattle show and sale,” Agriculture Commissioner Ryan Quarles said. “We’re especially pleased that Kentucky consignors had another successful Expo. This event continues to prove that Kentucky has earned a national reputation for top-quality beef cattle genetics.”

Sales totaled $1,147,805, an average of $2,326 per lot. The Beef Expo attracted 213 consignors with 493.5 lots. The 22 Gelbvieh cattle sold at the Expo brought $3,995 per lot to lead all breeds, followed by Angus, which averaged $3,774 for 47 lots.

The sale-topper was the grand champion Angus female consigned by Burks Cattle of Park City, which sold for $12,000 to Daniel Harker of Hope, Indiana. She shared top honors with a Gelbvieh consigned by Green Hills Gelbvieh of Mt. Ulla, North Carolina. The grand champion Gelbvieh female, consigned by Pleasant Meadows of Glasgow, attracted a high bid of $11,800 from Nathan Rock of South Carolina. The grand champion Simmental bull was consigned by Hammerhead Cattle Company of Campbellsville and sold for $10,500 to Matt Bixler of Worthington, Indiana.

The Kentucky Department of Agriculture (KDA), Kentucky Farm Bureau, and Farm Credit Mid-America were the major sponsors of the Beef Expo. For more information about the KDA’s livestock marketing program and other ways the KDA affects every Kentuckian every day, go to kyagr.com.