26 Triple threat
COUNTRY LIFE IN BC • NOVEMBER 2018 BEEFnfrom pg 25
areas with large numbers of cattle, he says. Volumes through Kamloops
are so great that when Valley Auction Ltd. in Armstrong closed in 2016, Western Livestock Marketing Solutions Ltd. stepped in and set up a buying station. Operators Mark Canart and Mike Nikolaisen said the new option would take pressure off the existing BC Livestock Producers Cooperative Association auction in Kamloops. (The co-op also operates auction rings in Okanagan Falls, Vanderhoof and Williams Lake.) It’s a different story in the
Lower Mainland, a point the consolidation of cattle markets underscores. Richmond grower Bill
This year’s BC Ag Expo in Barriere, September 20-24, will be one Amanda McGillivray, centre, won’t soon forget. She dominated the beef show not only with her steer project who was named the grand champion market and 4-H steer as well as the homegrown champion, she also led the supreme champion female. This year’s ag expo welcomed 4-H, youth and open exhibitors from all over southern BC, including members from 4-H clubs in Horsefly and as far north as Vanderhoof. In addition to the regular judging classes, BC Ag Expo also holds special classes for homegrown livestock entries and a female futurity in the open beef division where heifers are shown first as calves, then as yearlings and finally as cows with calves. The exhibit hall features photo projects plus educational displays. But it’s not all about competition. Costume classes, a dance and sale round out the four day exposition. Pictured from left to right is market steer judge Rob Voice, Matthew McGillivray, Amanda, Meghan McGillivray and Darryl Higgins, sponsor of the champion market steer class. Amanda is from the Tod Mountain 4-H Club. GRANT ROLSTON PHOTO
Zylmans runs a small herd of Black Angus and is glad to know an auction will still operate. However, he also points out that having it run just one day a week will force farmers who want to auction cattle to plan their lives around it. He says the situation points to further shrinkage in the local cattle sector. “It shows you … what’s happening to agriculture in the valley. There’s less cattle,” he says. “The demand and interest for cattle in this valley is no longer a priority.”
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