Growing up I knew it as The Sale Barn, sitting on the Floyd Highway it would come to life twice a week. With the parking lot filled with pick-ups and cars and the sale ring filled with people. I went there often with my Daddy Tom, we would get settled in to watch the sale, me with my Dr. Pepper and candy bar and him with his cup of coffee and pipe. The sale ring was loud and noisy with people talking and the auctioneer calling out bids. I loved it! The sale barn was the center of activity in a small farming community. Sadly, it has sat empty for a few years now.I was very happy to see it was coming to life again. Mitch and Susan DeGroot have opened Premier Livestock. Mitch has been involved in the dairy business all his life but had sold his dairy several years ago. So when he was approached about buying the sale barn, he made up his mind to get back into the cow business. Mitch felt like there was a need for a local sale ring especially for the dairies in this area. Susan says that “Mitch is really enjoying going to work again and loves the sale ring.” The day I went out to take a picture, Mitch was in the sale ring working the gates with a big smile on his face. The sounds and sight brought back many happy memories and it certainly looks like our local sale barn is coming to life again!
Mitch and Susan have been married for 22 years and had lived in Portales for 14 years before moving to Clovis. They have three kids and 5 grandchildren. Mitch and Susan welcome the community to come out and visit the Premier Livestock Auction on the Floyd Highway.
Tuesday is Sale Day with the sale starting at 1:00 pm and going until the last one clears the ring. If you would like to find out about consigning cows, contact Mitch DeGroot or Dan Paxton at 575-749-2171.
