Steamboat Pilot & Today

People from all over Colorado, Utah and Wyoming came to the Routt County Fairgrounds on April 12 for the Northwest Colorado Bull Auction, making the event "incredibly successful," Community Agricultural Alliance Director Jean Morrow-Petersen said.

At an average price of $1,450 per bull, 47 of the 61 bulls included in the auction were sold.

The sale hosted 23 consignors representing four breeds: Gelbvieh, Angus, Limousine and Hereford.

Progeny tests and other data were available to help buyers determine the virility and quality of the bulls.

The highest bid was $2,500 for a Gelbvieh bull. The high bid for an Angus bull was $2,300, and a Hereford bull went for $1,900. Larry and Mary Kay Monger of the High Tide Ranch in Steamboat Springs bought five bulls, the most of any one buyer.

"A lot of people thought there wouldn't be quality bulls, so there weren't too many people," said their son, Mark Monger. "That just meant a lot of bulls went for really good deals. We were very pleased. We only had to drive 30 minutes instead of two days (to find a bull)."

"We were concerned buyers wouldn't come," said C.J. Mucklow, director of the Routt County Cooperative Extension Office. "But we had lots of buyers and a good selection of bulls. Also, it's good to have an event in Routt County in the middle of April."

Mucklow said about 150 people attended the Saturday sale, and more than 100 showed for the pre-sale barbecue the night before.

The proceeds from the dinner went to aid in the recovery of Laura Crosby-Myers, who worked on compiling a book for the Extension Office and was recently diagnosed with a brain tumor.

The Routt County CattleWomen, Community Agricultural Alliance and the Cooperative Extension Office sponsored the event and advertised the sale through a ranching mailing list and several radio stations, Mucklow said.

Plans have been made to make this an annual event, and similar success is expected for the next bull auction.