Loss of the sale barn would result in hardships of several kinds for the business owners and the community. Other entities, like local trucking companies, rely on the functioning salebarn to provide them business. can take to complete. If we do obtain a grant, we still have a lot of work to do to secure contractors and develop a design. We need to work with environmental officials to ensure a new facility would comply with environmental regulations.” Cost of a new facility could be as much as $2 million. Sundsbak and Bitz have been approached by local land owners regarding possible relocation sites. “I still have the drive to do this kind of work,” Sundsbak says. “It’s not easy work, but it’s enjoyable. We feel a strong sense of loyalty to our customers who depend on us for marketing their cattle. At our age, George and I can’t go out and borrow a lot of
money like someone in their thirties would.” Loss of the sale barn would result in hardships of several kinds for the business owners and the community. Six full-time employees at the livestock auction would lose their jobs. The city would lose the revenue generated by the sale of as many as 62,000 head of cattle each year. “If the sale barn wasn’t here, it would also be a hardship for beef producers who bring their livestock here,” Sundsbak says. “A lot of our customers raise between 40 and 60 head of cattle so they often sell just a few animals. If they have to truck them another 60 to 100 miles that takes away from their profit as well as requires more of their time.”
Even larger beef producers often have just a few animals to bring to market, which brings them to Minot to complete other types of business, too. “When people bring cattle to the auction they usually eat or shop or do both while they’re here,” Sundsbak says. “We’re working with the Minot Economic Development Corporation to help determine what our options are. We are certainly open to having someone younger come in and set up a new facility and take over the business. Or maybe a group of ranchers would like to work together to keep the auction going. We’re looking at every opportunity that would keep the business in Minot.”
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