OKLAHOMA NATIONAL STOCKYARDS
Making The
entrance to the Oklahoma National Stockyards T heis home to a plaque that reads:
"You are approaching the gate of the Oklahoma National Stockyards, the world's largest stocker-feeder cattle market. Having always served as the anchor tenant in Stockyards City, the inception of business inside the gate resulted in the rapid growth of a district required to accommodate customers of the stockyards. Provision of goods and services to meet the needs of the working cowboy and cowgirl became the focus of Oklahoma County's only western heritage specialty district. Always a driving force in the cattle industry, the yards are a reminder of the impact of the cowboy culture on our state's history." Stockyards City which functions as self sufficient city complete with zip code, was founded on October 3rd, 1910, only three years after Oklahoma became a state. It was built to serve the nation as a primary source for meat processing and packing. By 1915, Morris, Wilson and Armour established huge packing facilities to slaughter cattle, hogs and sheep that were transported there, first by cattle drive, and later by railroad and truck. The area’s nickname for a time was “Packingtown.” By 1961 the Stockyards were faced with complete overhaul and updating of equipment, the packing plants decided to close. Today, the Oklahoma National Stockyards still retain profitable cattle trading and related businesses, a lot of which can be contributed in part by the Stockyards President, Rob Fisher. Fisher has been working with GP's outside salesman, Ernie Sikes since before Sikes even started with Great Plains Kubota. The business
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relationship Fisher has with Sikes, is much like the ones he has with his tenants, customers, and vendors. It is one based on honesty, integrity, and lots of hard work. Because of this relationship, Fisher has made the switch to Kubota! Just like any other city, the Stockyards require equipment to maintain the grounds, facilities, and roadways, and Fisher dedicates both employees and equipment to these types of tasks. At any given day, a visitor to Stockyard City could see one of four Kubota
Above: Oklahoma National Stockyards President poses at the entrance of Stockyard City with his fleet of Kubota equipment, and crew. Photo Submitted By: Ernie Sikes
GPL summer 2018
