The cattle trucks will be parked, and the sale rings will be silent next week as Oklahoma’s two largest livestock markets have made the call to cancel operations in the face of a historic winter storm.
With forecasts calling for potential record-breaking snowfall and life-threatening wind chills, both the Oklahoma National Stockyards in Oklahoma City and OKC West in El Reno have confirmed they will not hold sales for the week of January 26.
The decision comes as local meteorologists warn of a “Storm of the Century”- type event that could dump up to 2 feet of snow in some areas, making travel across the state virtually impossible for cattle haulers and producers alike.
“It’s just not worth the risk,” is the sentiment echoing across the industry today. With road conditions expected to deteriorate rapidly on Friday night and remain treacherous through Monday, the safety of the producers, the haulers, and the livestock has taken priority over the weekly market run.
What You Need to Know:
- Oklahoma National Stockyards: No sale Monday, Jan 26.
- OKC West (El Reno): No sale next week.
- Other Markets: Producers should assume most local sale barns will follow suit. Always call ahead before hooking up the trailer.
Market activity is expected to resume the following week, weather permitting, as the state digs out from the deep freeze.
Sale Cancellation Notice
Due to the forecasted winter weather storm and out of an abundance of caution for the safety of our customers and employees, the sale for Monday & Tuesday, January 26th–27th are canceled.
OKC West in El-Reno also put out this statement;
Due to the threat of inclement weather, we will have NO SALES NEXT WEEK 1/26 – 1/28.
We are sorry for this inconvenience, but feel it is best for all employees and livestock involved. Please stay safe and warm!
