OKC West to host a special fire relief benefit auction
Wednesdays are sale days at OKC West Livestock Market but, this coming Wednesday, May 9, will be different.
“Typically, animals are not auctioned off more than once at a livestock market, but the plan this coming Wednesday is for a heifer to be sold several times to benefit the ranchers affected by the recent wildfires,” said Weston Givens President of the Oklahoma Cattlemen’s Association. “We call this a roll-over auction.”
The heifer for the sale has been donated by the Henrich brothers, Blake, Jake and Kade from Okarche, Oklahoma. According to Givens, the brothers are active in FFA, 4-H and the Oklahoma Junior Cattlemen’s Association and wanted to help those families impacted by the wildfires.
OKC West Livestock Market, hosted the same type of auction in the spring of 2017 following the wildfires and raised $115,449.50.
“After experiencing our own disaster with the May 31, 2013 tornado, people rallied around us with tremendous support. Many were friends of our Market, but most were just good neighbors helping those in need,” said Bill Barnhart, president of OKC West. “We are honored to work with the Henrichs family to host this special auction.”
The Oklahoma Cattlemen’s Foundation is a charitable arm of the Oklahoma Cattlemen’s Association. According to Givens, 100 percent of the donations to the OCF Fire Relief Fund will be distributed to the ranchers affected by the recent fires.
“Our goal is to distribute payments within 90 days of the fire. Affected ranchers can download an application to apply for fire relief funds at www.okcattlemen.org.”
Donations can be made by mail or online. Make checks payable to Oklahoma Cattlemen’s Foundation and put “Fire Relief” in the memo line and send to P.O. Box 82395., Oklahoma City, OK 73148. To donate online, visit www.okcattlemen.org.
The Oklahoma Cattlemen’s Foundation was created to provide a charitable trust for the Oklahoma Cattlemen’s Association and Oklahoma Junior Cattlemen’s Association. When you support the Oklahoma Cattlemen’s Foundation, you support beef cattle educational programs, research projects in cooperation with Oklahoma State University, educational scholarships for Oklahoma’s 4-H and FFA youth and the preservation of the Oklahoma beef cattle industry and its traditions.
