The Enid News and Eagle, Enid, OK

Northwest Oklahoma 2

Related Photos

  • Bobby Smith, owner of Fairview Sale Barn, says he loves what he does for a living.

    Fairview_Sale_Barn_1_BH.jpg

  • Cattle stand at Fairview Sale Barn. Annually, Fairview Sale Barn brings in 90,000 cattle, which are sold every Thursday.

    Fairview_Sale_Barn_2_BH.jpg

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March 13, 2010

‘Leaving with lots of smiles’

Smith loves the business of selling cattle in Fairview

By Kasey Fowler, Staff Writer Enid News and Eagle

FAIRVIEW — “Fairview Sale Barn is all about selling cattle.”

Bobby Smith, owner of Fairview Sale Barn, may work 70 to 80 hours a week this time of the year, but he is OK with that because he loves what he does — sell cattle.

“When you find a job you love, you don’t have to get up and go to work in the mornings, so I don’t have to get up and go to work anymore,” said Smith. “I love what I do.”

Smith “hasn’t been working” at his business for coming up on 36 years.

He said he knew at a young age what direction he wanted his career to take.

“I grew up in this business. It was shut down in the ’50s. My dad bought it and opened it up. He sold it when he got cancer. I got it back in ’75,” said Smith.

Annually, Fairview Sale Barn brings in 90,000 cattle, which are sold every Thursday.

“This is a seasonal time of the year when the runs are big coming off the wheat fields. An average of 150 to 200 consignors come each week. With the transportation now, your trade area has expanded ... a 100-mile radius is not uncommon,” said Smith.

Thursdays bring in hundreds of consignors to Fairview, sometimes to the dismay of residents who see traffic tied up by trucks and trailers transporting cattle.

“Two weeks ago, we had over 200 consignors, and most come in stock trailers, so the lines can get long,” said Smith.

About half of the sellers drop off cattle early, with the other half coming on sale day.

“... and keep coming until 9 p.m. this time of the year,” said Smith.

Smith said without the sellers who stream into Fairview, he wouldn’t have a business.

“Small producers with 10 head (of cattle) are just as important as one with 100 head,” said Smith. “Those small producers made my business.”

Currently, most of the cattle coming into Fairview Sale Barn are feeders, according to Smith.

“Most of the cattle this time of the year are going to Colorado or Nebraska to the feedlots to be fattened for slaughter,” said Smith. “Seventy to 80 percent are feeder cattle now, but in the fall it will reverse and be 70 to 80 percent stockers.”

Regardless of what type of cattle the consignors are bringing in, Smith said the customers are what make the business.

“I love what I do. When the market is good, I smile with my customers. When the market is bad, I cry with my customers. Right now, they are leaving with lots of smiles,” said Smith.

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