As consignors and trade show exhibitors settled in at the 77th annual Red Bluff Bull and Gelding Sale they dealt with several days of long-awaited rains that the Red Bluff event often brings to a parched Northern California. By the time the cattle, horse, and stock dog buyers arrived, the clouds had parted as the warm weather welcomed groves of people seeking the Red Bluff experience.
The crowds undoubtedly got the experience they sought as the quality of geldings, stock dogs, and large selection of bulls offered something for everyone. This year’s sale ran from Jan. 23-27.
Known for its strict sifting guidelines, consignors bring their best stock to Red Bluff well aware that only the sound, quality animals will make it to their respective auctions. The committee at Red Bluff prides itself on standing by their judging and grading criteria to ensure buyers are taking home animals that will hold up and get the job done on their ranching operations.
Bulls
Once again in 2018, the annual Red Bluff Bull Sale kicked off bull sale season in the Northwest with the largest all-breeds offering that buyers will see this spring.
What started strictly as a Hereford bull sale nearly eight decades ago is still a prime spot to find some of the best Herefords on the West Coast. As the sale evolved, it gradually allowed in other breeds and generally has a large offering Angus bulls as well.
This year’s Supreme Champion was not one of the usual Hereford or Angus elite, but a powerhouse Charolais sire consigned by Red Bluff legends Don and Diana Cardey of Turlock, CA. With plenty of mass and muscle, Cardey’s Lot 253, LC Slayer 1820, sold to longtime Red Bluff supporter Gary Silva of Herald, CA, for $10,000. The runner-up high seller was Lot 425, LS Basic Steel 237D from Little Shasta Ranch, Montague, CA, which sold for $9,000 to Rick and Linda Anderson of Eagle Point, OR.
If high-sellers were measured strictly by the dollars they brought into the sale, then Lot 331 from the England Ranch of Powell Butte, OR, would have been the winner, hands down. As this year’s Water for Life donation bull, all proceeds from the bull are donated to Water for Life to help preserve agriculture water rights in the Northwest. The donation bull sold not once, not twice, but three times, with the first two times being re-racked for a repeat sale. In all the bull brought more than $40,000 with the final owner being C2 Cattle Co., of Eagle Point, OR.
Geldings
Three days of horse exhibitions in team roping, calf branding, trail courses, cow cutting, and cow horse competition—comprised of both a reining pattern and fence work—gave buyers the opportunity to see what the horses can do. Once again, an outstanding set of geldings ranging from ranch-ready rope horses to finished show-pen stock horses were on offer. Buyers came ready to pay top dollar to get the geldings they were after.
As always, there was plenty of eye-appeal, size, and color that buyers have come to expect from “the Red Bluff kind.” It was no surprise that geldings consigned by respected horsewoman Angela Vogt of Elk Creek, CA, and World’s Greatest Horseman and Clinician Clayton Edsall, were among the high sellers.
A 2012 stout sorrel gelding consigned by Brian and Mary Huntsberger sold for $30,000 to Frank Berlogar of Pleasanton, CA, and three lots later Vogt’s 2013 bay gelding Roan N Nick brought $30,000, selling to Lazy T Ranch of Ten Sleep, WY. Edsall’s 2013 Buckskin stunner Smart Smart Rooster brought $29,500 and went to James Butler of Center, TX. With a record-breaking sale average of $11,872 on 65 geldings, consignors should prepare for next year to be even better.
Other standouts in the gelding sale were Jack and Beverly Sparrowk’s Champion Stockhorse, shown by Edsall. The 2010 sorrel gelding sold for $24,500 to James Butler.
Dogs
It seems $30,000 was the magic number at the iconic western event as the stock dog sale also broke sale average records. With perhaps the best set of stock dog consignments Red Bluff spectators have ever seen, the dog sale was a highly-anticipated event. With another record sale average, 16 stock dogs lots brought a total of $8,968, besting lasting year’s 14-dog sale average by more than $2,800.
After Lot 1, Gurdy, a red and white female Border Collie consigned by Jeff Claussen of Melba, ID and bred by longtime Red Bluff elite trainer Robyn Brown of Mesa, ID, sold to Lightning 7 Cattle Co., of Preston, ID for $30,000, it appeared unlikely that the sale could get much better. Who would have thought that Lot 3, Rose, another red and white female consigned by Mandi Post of Wallowa, WA, would also bring that record-breaking sale price of $30,000. Lot 3 sold to Ten Sleep, WY-based Lazy T Ranch.
Throughout the three rigorous rounds of dog trials in both indoor and outdoor arena settings, Gurdy was the top scorer through the week, with scores of 83 on Wednesday and Friday and 88 on Thursday for a cumulative total of 254. Rose posted scores of 71, 85, and 76 for a total of 232 for the week.
Richard Daybell, Fairview, UT, an experienced stock dog trainer who has exhibited at stock dog trials across the West, made his way to Red Bluff for the first time. Daybell said the opportunity to sell a dog in Red Bluff was a positive one.
“I’ve heard a lot about Red Bluff and had lots of friends bring dogs here, so I thought I would try it out. I’ve had a tremendous time and look forward to returning. When you have a chance to sell a dog for $30,000, it definitely makes it worth the trip.” Daybell’s dog, Daybells Cash, sold for $8,250.
The Red Bluff kind
One thing that many buyers, consignors, and spectators love about Red Bluff is that it was a sale that started as a way to improve the livestock industry and that original goal is still forefront today. With a great set of sponsors and plenty of dedicated committee members, the sale is able to meet that original goal 77 years after its inception.
The Western Livestock Journal and its staff would like to extend a sincere “congratulations” to the bull, gelding, and stock dog consigners and to the committee that puts the events together. If you’ve heard it once, you’ve heard it a thousand times: There is no other event like the Red Bluff Bull and Gelding Sale. If you haven’t been before, it’s an event that needs to go on your bucket list! — LOGAN IPSEN
