Springfield Livestock Marketing Center
Owners: Below, left to right, Joe Gammon, Tonto Kissee, Kelly Crain, Tom Kissee, Ed Ford, Jack Frost. Not pictured: Jack Creed, Pete Sumners, Charlie Chappell.
Company History: The idea for Springfield Livestock Marketing Center was born when Joplin Regional Stockyards bought out the old Springfield Stockyards, Jack Frost said. “We were all commission firms at Springfield.” Tonto Kissee added, “What we wanted to do was provide an option for people where they could market their cattle and we could continue to serve our customers we had had for generations. One unique point is that we brought three firms together. Everybody said we couldn’t do it because we had been competitors for so many years. We have had loyal customers that have been faithful to us, and we wanted to continue giving them service.” Springfield Livestock Marketing Center opened for business in 2002.
Products and Services: Springfield Livestock Marketing Center will hold approximately 5,000 cattle in their four acres of pens and alleys, all under one roof. “There are 1,700 posts set in concrete and 700 gates,” smiled Jack Frost, adding, “Farmers would think that was interesting.” The sale barn has a cow sale on Monday, dairy sale on Tuesday, stocker/feeder sale on Wednesday, Cowboy Church on Thursday night, a special stock cow sale the second Saturday of the month and a horse sale the fourth Friday of the month. They offer pre-vac sales the first and third Wednesdays of the month. The barn has three drive-through unloading sites, and at the load-out site there are four pot chutes and four gooseneck chutes.
They have two vets on staff and employ around 60 full- and part-time employees. “We also have registered and production sales here, and a wash rack to clip and get ready for those sales,” Jack said.
What advice would you give to the cattle producer?
"Make sure your cattle genetics improve each year. Spend a little extra money to buy the best bulls you can. It will pay off to make the calves you market as uniform as possible. The beef production industry has not been affected in this economy as severe as others; people still have to eat and they want red meat, and we're providing that," said Tonto.
By OFN Staff
