[Congressional Record (Bound Edition), Volume 152 (2006), Part 17]
[Senate]
[Page 21880]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov]




            25TH ANNIVERSARY OF THE HERREID LIVESTOCK MARKET

 Mr. JOHNSON. Mr. President, today I honor the owners and 
operators of the Herreid Livestock Market on its 25th anniversary. Each 
year, hundreds of thousands of animals are moved through the sale barn 
to be purchased by farmers or by packers, and eventually find their way 
to supermarket shelves. The Herreid Livestock Market is one of the 
largest sale barns in the region, and has proven to be a pillar of the 
local community both by facilitating business and through advocacy and 
philanthropy.
  The Herreid Livestock Market began operating in 1981. A previous sale 
barn in Herreid had burned down in 1978. Herman Schumacher, the late 
Gordie Ulmer, and the late Andy Heisler were primarily responsible for 
the building of the current structure. Joe Vetter quickly joined in the 
enterprise as an auctioneer and soon purchased a third of the business. 
Since then, Schumacher and Vetter have remained partners, along with 
various other individuals, most recently J.R. Scott. Finally, though, 
last summer the business was sold to Joe Varner. Scott still manages 
the sale barn, however, and Schumacher and Vetter remain involved as 
well.
  In addition to operating a premier sale barn, Schumacher, Vetter, and 
Scott have been active in a variety of issues of vital importance to 
their industry. They have been active in pushing for country-of-origin 
labeling, helping to close the Canadian border for food safety reasons, 
and perhaps most notably, Schumacher was a founder of the Ranchers-
Cattlemen Action Legal Fund, R-CALF. R-CALF has advocated for producers 
by opposing market manipulation on the part of meatpackers, working to 
restrict the importation of foreign cattle into the U.S., and food 
safety, among other areas of concern. R-CALF has now merged with the 
United Stockgrowers of America and has over 18,000 members. The owners 
of the Herreid Livestock Market have also supported access to local 
health care by giving large donations to the Linton Hospital Foundation 
and the Campbell County Clinics.
  While drought conditions have caused a spike in short-term sales, the 
sale barn may be facing some challenging years as producers work to 
build their herds back up. However, I am confident that the same work 
ethic that has caused the Herreid Livestock Market to flourish for 25 
years will allow the business to continue prospering.
  On October 6, 2006, the community celebrated the Herreid Livestock 
Market with a free BBQ Beef Lunch before the 25th anniversary sale. I 
wish to congratulate the current and past owners and employees of the 
Herreid Livestock Market on reaching this milestone for their business, 
and for their years of service to the community. Once again, I commend 
the individuals involved in this enterprise and am pleased to see them 
publicly honored.

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