A mainstay of Southeast Nebraska’s ag economy is under new ownership, ensuring area livestock sales for years to come.
It is an unfortunate trend in virtually every industry, but especially in ag, that independent businesses, the mom-and-pop shops, are closing because aging owners can’t find anyone to fill their shoes.
The new owners of the Fairbury Livestock Company were determined that wouldn’t happen here. So, when Larry Junker, auctioneer and owner of the Fairbury Livestock Company, was ready to step back, Colby Hynek and Andrew Wiedel stepped up.
Hynek said it just seemed like a natural thing to do, “Andrew actually came up and he goes, ‘Well, do you know the sale barn’s for sale?’ I was like, ‘No, I do not.’ And he goes, ‘Well, let’s just buy it.” Well, I’m like, ‘Sure, why not?’”
Neither man could bear the thought of the business that has served the community for decades just disappearing like so many others have. Hynek said, “I like history, and this barn’s got a lot of it. So, we are just trying to keep all that alive. It’s a legacy deal. I just don’t want Larry’s legacy to die.”
Wiedel agreed, “This place is just too important to just disappear. We want to keep it going. We’re in this for the long haul.”
Both Hynek and Wiedel have long been involved in the livestock business in one form or another. Hynek said, “I’ve always been involved in cattle in some way. I’ve been on big ranches, big feed yards. I worked for a cattle buyer, and so I always had love for the cattle side. And then I started a welding business, and that’s what I was doing up until we bought this.”
Hynek had been working at the Sale Barn for three years before buying the business, so his connection to the business was strong, “Me and my wife actually got married in this barn.”
Likewise, Wiedel has been in the livestock field for many years and farms in the Hebron area.
There is little doubt as to the need for the sale barn in the area, as options are few and far between.
“I feel we’re getting more people from farther away. You look and there’s not a whole lot of barns close to us. I mean, especially when you get up north, and there’s a big hole up there. The same down south, you know, you’re either going to Marysville or Manhattan. So, there’s a little pocket there. It’s basically 60 miles to each sale barn.”
While he has sold the business, Junker will continue to be a part of it for the foreseeable future, as will his son, Jake, and granddaughter, Josie. Hopefully, this will create a smooth transition.
Hynek and Wiedel were anxious that Junker still play a part.
“Larry still auctions off calves, who brought in another auctioneer, a younger kid, that he’ll sell the kill cows,” Hynek said, “Because I know his voice is part of it.”
While the new owners are updating operations and looking to expand, they do not plan on buying or starting any new sale barns in other locations.
There has been a lot of hand-wringing recently over the state of the cattle industry of late. In spite of the doomsayers, both men remain optimistic about the future. Hynek said, “Far as the cattle numbers in the country going down, you know, we just went through a bad drought and everything else, trying to get guys to rebuild herds. But at the same time, there’s a lot of people coming back and buying pair and buying bred cows. So, with the numbers we lost, I feel we’re going to gain back. It’s just going to take a little bit.”
“I feel we’re in such a good, diverse area, you know?” said Hynek. “We got enough numbers to keep it going. So, we’re fortunate on that.”
The auction is a vital part of the livestock economy. While it is true that some livestock producers will sell directly, Hynek said, “An auction is always the best place to sell your cattle.”
That is due to the competition. Hynek likes to quote Junker on this subject, “If I’m coming to your farm and I’m buying your cattle off your farm, I’m winning. The best honest place to sell your cattle for anything is an auction, because you got two people arguing for them.”
Central and Western Nebraska has been devastated recently by wildfires that have burned more than 820,000 acres to date, displacing more than 35,000 cows with nowhere to graze and destroying miles and miles of fencing. To support Nebraska’s important livestock producers, the Fairbury Livestock Company has partnered with the Thayer County Feeders as a drop spot to gather hay and fencing supplies for fire relief.