BIDDING FAREWELL SUPPORTERS GATHER IN SUPPORT & CELEBRATION AS RESPECTED INDUSTRY ICON HOLDS FINAL EVENT by Managing Editor Stevie Ipsen s the final gavel fell on Feb. 12 at Shasta Livestock Auction Yard in Cottonwood, there was plenty of what cattlemen and women across the west have come to know Shasta Livestock for good cattle, good prices and good people. Only at this culminating event, there were also plenty of tears shed as Peek Family friends packed into the iconic sale barn to pay respect to Ellington and Betty Peek for being an integral part of their own family businesses for decades. The Peek Family business – literally built from the ground up – is six decades in the making and though the final live sale has been held and the yards are now empty, with a plethora of photos, brands and California cattle industry history now being taken down to preserve, Brad Peek emphasizes that this is just the beginning of a new era for Shasta Livestock. Founded in 1961 by Ellington Peek, Shasta Livestock Auction Yard, in the heart of the California/Oregon/ Nevada cattle triangle has been one of the largest auction markets in the west, selling more than 80,000 head of cattle each year and a similar number in country deals. Shasta also represents close to a quarter-million head of cattle annually on Western Video Market satellite and Internet video auctions. “Of course it is sad. It was a somber announcement for us to make as the familiy business evolves,” said Brad Peek, who is now the co-owner of Shasta Livestock alongside his sister Callie Wood. Both Brad Peek and Wood have been
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with the family sale yard business in one capacity or another for most of their lives and together will lead the family business in a new direction. “Due to my dad’s vision in 1961 and his experience even before that, our parents have built a true legacy that their family and all four of us children are so honored by. We are truly honored to be the children of such great people, “said Brad Peek on the day prior to the final sale. “This familyran operation – for 60 years – has been a big part of this great local community. We have a lot of feelings going into the final event but it has been a happy time as well, as my dad has had conversations with friends and customers who have been part of that 60-year story.” “As we speak there are gooseneck trailers rolling in, delivering cattle for tomorrow’s sale and it is really hard, not just for us as a family but for the cattlemen and women who rely on this auction barn to sell their livestock,” Peek said. The final sale started off at 8 a.m. and to anyone familiar with the weekly sale event, the day started off like any normal Friday morning. The crowd was light but the feeling in the air was somber as friends and family trickled in. Within an hour of the sale starting the mood was jovial and the seats were full. By the sale’s end their was standing room only as prices were high, laughs were plentiful and Ellington Peek occasionally chimed in to tell a short story or thank his longtime staff of secretaries, yard crew and of course auctioneers.
© All photos by Crystal Amen Photography
