For more than eight decades, the Red Bluff Bull and Gelding Sale has served as the defining Western event in the West, drawing some of the best cattle, horses and stock dogs in the region. The weeklong shows and sales are testament to the resilience of the Western lifestyle, where quality stock, hard-earned reputations and deep-rooted traditions come together under the legendary “Red Bluff standard.”
At the helm of it all is sale manager B.J. Macfarlane.
B.J. has served in his capacity since the fall of 2021. With a fourth successful event now behind him and a well-earned break on the horizon, B.J. sat down with WLJ to reflect on the 2025 Red Bluff Bull and Gelding Sale.
“The economic impact it has for Red Bluff and Northern California is extravagant,” he told WLJ. He emphasized that the event wouldn’t be possible without the tireless dedication and countless hours put in by the staff, volunteers and sponsors. “I respect that they put the hours in to make sure this happens,” B.J. said.
This year marked the 84th annual bull sale, 63rd gelding sale and 47th stock dog sale. The legacy of the Red Bluff Bull and Gelding Sale began in 1941 when a small group of local ranchers and a farm advisor started what was originally a Hereford sale. The sale remained focused on Herefords for many years until the addition of Shorthorn and, eventually, Angus. Today, the sale is primarily Angus but includes bulls from 10 different breeds.
“We’ve just followed the trend, adapting to what’s shaping the industry and catering to the crowd that attends the sale,” B.J. said.
In addition to horse and dog sales, the event has grown to include something for everyone. The week includes seminars, clinics, competitions, dinners and dancing, and for those looking to do a little shopping, one of the largest trade shows in the West.
“If it has anything to do with the Western lifestyle, whether you want a coat, a halter for your horse, your hat shaped or Western furniture, we have something for everybody at the trade show,” B.J. said.
The beginning of the week starts with a buyer and consignor dinner on Wednesday night, where 600-800 locals and far-wide visitors gather for fellowship, good food and live entertainment. Over the next few days are stock shows and trials, dinners and sales—including the Western Video Market video sale, a partnership that B.J. said has contributed to the event’s growth over the past two decades. The end of the week concludes with the Red Bluff Bucking Battle, where spectators can watch bull riding, bronc riding and even wild pony riding from young cowboys and cowgirls in the making.
The weeklong event is a family affair that appeals to all, which B.J. credits as the reason for attracting more than 30,000-35,000 people through the doors.
The Red Bluff standard
While there are plenty of activities during the week to keep you busy, the heart of the event remains the bull, horse and stock dog sales. Originally established to serve local ranchers and offer opportunities to prove and improve their genetics, the Red Bluff event continues to do just that.
The Red Bluff Bull and Gelding Sale is made possible by dedicated sale committee and advisory committee members, some of whose members also take on the important task of serving on the sifting committees. These committee members are deeply rooted in the industry, many of them second- and third-generation cattlemen who are committed to carrying on the legacy of those who came before them.
“These committees are for the betterment,” B.J. said. “That’s the reason I’m in this position—everyone on those committees I respect.” As a previous consignor himself for nearly 20 years, he added, “I’ve respected them as cattlemen and the way they ran their operations.”
To be eligible for sale, animals must prove they have what it takes to meet the Red Bluff standard—an iconic benchmark of quality and performance. Whether vying for the bull, horse or dog sale ring, each animal is thoroughly evaluated by the sifting committee to ensure they meet the Red Bluff standard.
Bulls first undergo evaluation by a sifting committee and a veterinarian to assess their soundness and functionality. They then advance to the grading ring, where graders apply Beef Improvement Federation standards to determine a bull’s overall merit. In this stage, a bull may be sifted out based on quality, regardless of its functionality.
Geldings are rigorously evaluated for soundness and usefulness by a committee that includes five veterinarians assessing for lameness.
“We have several contests now for these saddle horses to compete in,” B.J. said. “Cutting, breakaway, calf branding … There’s several events that these horses can compete in.”
Dogs are also thoroughly evaluated and worked three separate times. With only 20 spots available in the sale, the competition is fierce to make it to the final selection.
“At any point in those workings, the dogs can be sifted if they’re not up the standards,” B.J. said. “They have to be well above average every time to make the sale.”
Sale results
While expectations were high for a strong bull sale this year given the current market, B.J. didn’t anticipate such a significant jump. The sale surpassed even the best in Red Bluff’s history, with 282 bulls averaging $7,800.
“It’s a tribute to our consignors that they’ve upped the ante,” B.J. said. “Because of the standards we’ve set, if they don’t bring ones good enough, they’re not even going to make it to the sale ring.”
He added, “Our consignors have done their homework on their own herds and bought better bulls, in my opinion, the last six or eight years and they got heavily rewarded this year.”
The gelding sale—which now also includes mares—and the stock dog sale also saw strong and consistent sales, falling just short of last year’s records.
“It was still a good sale, but last year we kind of knocked the doors off in the gelding sale,” B.J. said. “So, it’s been hard to beat that one.”
Future visions
Heading into the 85th annual bull sale, 64th gelding sale and 48th stock dog sale, B.J. said he’d like to see more youth involvement at the levels seen before COVID-19. “It used to be huge on Thursdays for the FFA chapters to come by the droves through there,” he said. “This year I started seeing a few more of them come back.”
The Red Bluff Bull and Gelding Sale is dedicated to the local youth, recognizing their important role as the future of the industry. For the past 20 years, the annual Youth Fund Drawing has supported youth community and agriculture-related events. This year, Elwood Ranches generously donated a Kubota Sidekick to be raffled off, with all proceeds benefiting youth programs.
“We also help some sports teams locally, some jackpot shows and junior beef associations and shows throughout the western U.S.,” B.J. said. “They’re going to be our leaders, so we help them out greatly in terms of scholarships and anything we can do to help out.”
B.J. emphasized the strong sense of community that runs through the local region and the event itself. “If you’re part of the Red Bluff Bull Sale, you have lots of friends,” he said.
With another successful event behind them, the committees will meet in the upcoming weeks to recap the event and make any necessary updates for the future. But as B.J. put it, “If it’s not broke, there’s no reason to fix it.”
Be sure to put the 2026 Red Bluff Bull and Gelding Sale on your calendars for Jan. 27-31, 2026! — Anna Miller, WLJ managing editor
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