Generations of Tradition
Dos Palos Y Auction Yard from the Livestock Marketing Association “My role now is staying out of their way.” Located five miles north of Dos Palos, California, When returning to the family operation, Jarod and stands a multi-generational business with over 70 years Justin felt a need to contribute something of their own. of history devoted to livestock marketing. Operated by When Jarod returned from college, with his brother helping the Cozzi Family, the Dos Palos Y Auction Yard is a him on the side, they started going to neighboring sales, foundation of years of hard work and customer-driven purchasing and selling goats. After getting their foot in the service. door with other small animal producers in the area, they Like many local, family businesses, the auction’s decided to start a sheep and goat sale. beginning was built from a combination of passion and “The main hurdle was getting it ‘okayed’,” Jarod said. the desire to better serve customers in the area. In between “We always just sold cattle, so sheep and goats were kind milking cows on his family’s dairy and farming with his of the odd ball. My brother and I are always trying to figure brothers on Cozzi Road, the late Tony Cozzi auctioneered out the next best thing.” for a neighboring livestock market. Realizing that several It wasn’t just getting the nod of approval from their cattlemen were not getting a “fair shake”, he decided to open a livestock auction built on the values of honesty and father and grandfather that proved to be a challenge, though. Jarod and Justin also put in a lot of extra side work truthfulness. to continually build their small animal customer base and In 1950, Tony built the auction barn, with its name make sure their yards were fit to house sheep and goats. stemming from a “Y” shape in the junction of two nearby This included rearranging pens and putting up smaller roads – Highway 33 and Highway 52. In 1951, he built his panels to keep them fenced in, as well as making sure the home next door to the auction, always allowing him quick pens return to normal when the cattle started rolling in for access to his business and customers. their other sales. Today, the auction hosts sales three days a week and After the first year, the sale was a success, and now is run by the second, third and fourth generations of the Dos Palos Y Auction hosts a sheep and goat sale two days Cozzi family – Joel, Joey, Jarod and Justin. With similar beginnings in working at the auction and partnering with ...CONTINUED ON PAGE 12 their fathers, the family all share the same passion: working with livestock and providing an honest service to their producers. “I did everything from haul the cows, to feed the cows, to clean the corrals – I did everything,” Joel said. “My wife, Shirley, worked in the office, and she did the books. We were just a small family operation and did everything mostly ourselves.” Each member of the family has an area of the business they cover while playing on their strengths and knowledge. Job titles are non-existent, and they all hold a key role in keeping the auction going. “We work as a team pretty well,” Joey said. “Whatever my father can’t do, I can do and vice versa. He’s kinda stepping back a little bit since my son is here now, but he’s still here to oversee and give advice.” Joel, Joey and Jarod Cozzi – the second, third and fourth generations of Dos Palos Adding with a chuckle, Joel noted, 10 California Cattleman May 2022
Y Auction Yard. (Not pictured – Justin Cozzi)
