By TONY GUERRERO
Hays Post
PLAINVILLE—On any given Tuesday, millions of dollars can move through Heartland Regional Stockyards in just a few hours.
Owner Lloyd Schneider, a lifelong Logan farmer and rancher, said the family-run livestock auction in Plainville, 907 NW Third St., hosts weekly sales serving the region.
"Heartland Regional Stockyard is a vital part of the cattle business, and it's vital to the multi-county area," Schneider said.
Brandon Hamel, sales manager at Heartland Regional Stockyard, said the barn was purchased to preserve an essential local market, serving as a “referee” between producers and buyers.
Cattle are sorted by sex and weight before prices are negotiated with buyers from several states. Hamel said the live auction stockyard stands out for its long-lasting relationships with customers.
"We're super efficient," Hamel said. "I've worked at a lot of sale barns. We're probably the top three fastest-selling barns that I've been around."
Hamel said about 1,700 head were sold in about five hours on the day of the interview. He explained that quicker sales mean more revenue for producers by reducing shrinkage or weight loss.
"A couple of weeks ago, we had a big sale and received $9 million from buyers that went to our sellers in our community, from six different states. What other business does that? Not a lot," Hamel said.
Hamel said the COVID-19 pandemic was difficult for the business, which also faces ongoing market volatility and the need for enough cattle to attract top buyers.
Hamel said after the 2021 four-county fire, the business organized an auction within three days and raised between $75,000 and $100,000.
"A lot of our producers were affected by it," he said. "We led that for our people. We helped them get back on their feet with what we could do."
Fundraising efforts also include an FFA sale that raised more than $10,000 for scholarships and agricultural education in February. A Cattlemen’s Ball is also hosted each August as an invite-only event for buyers and sellers, featuring live music and dancing in the sale ring.
Schneider is a fourth-generation rancher, with his own children also sharing his passion for the cattle industry. The family’s ranching roots trace back to 1895.
Schneider and his wife, Judy Schneider, became the new owners of the livestock auction in the summer of 2019.
Hamel said the stockyard works hard for producers, even helping offset costly freight expenses.
"Every bid is 50 cents or $1 on your draft. We will more than pay for that extra freight to get up to Plainville," he said.
Lloyd also shared that, despite recent increases, beef remains one of the most affordable ingredients on a per-ounce basis compared to tomatoes, lettuce and French fries.
The livestock auction is open from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. Mondays through Fridays. You can follow the Hearland Regional Stockyards on Facebook and visit its website here.