Published: September 15, 2008 11:21 am         

Locals buy Perkins sale barn

Stillwater cattleman and wife ‘thrilled’ to take over Perkins Livestock

Long days, loud noises, up and down markets, dirt and weather — it’s hard work but local cattleman Robb Taylor says he’s “thrilled” to take over Perkins Livestock LLC, known as the area “sale barn” or livestock auction.

“I’d be down here buying and selling anyway,” said Robb who, with his wife Laurie, purchased the facilities from Buel and Janet Hoar of Piedmont. “I love all these people, being outside and working with the animals. It was time to start doing these things I love most.”

Robb and Laurie were reared in Ponca City but have lived in Stillwater since the mid 1990s. Robb’s father is a practicing veterinarian in Ponca City and his mother is a teacher. He said he learned about large animal care from watching his father and roping. He also earned recognition showing sheep, hogs and cattle and serving as an officer in his high school FFA program.

After completing a double major in agriculture economics and agriculture education at OSU, Robb worked as a loan officer for Farm Credit and then worked for a short time as a Merial Animal Health sales representative. For the last five years he was in sales for Neenah Foundry Co., working the Oklahoma and West Texas territories. He’s also been running Rocking T Ranch for many years, which is how he grew so familiar with the livestock auction business.

Laurie, his wife of nearly nine years, was exposed to the agriculture industry through her mother’s family. She has an OSU degree in public relations and currently works with a niche group of contractors as a small public relations firm while focusing on raising their three young daughters.

With two lightning strikes to the building in recent storms, the Taylors have had to overcome downed phone lines, ruined equipment and more. They have received approval from state and federal livestock and small business associations while also launching the start of what will become their new Web site www.perkinslivestock.com.

“This place is so much more than a sale barn. It’s friends. It’s family. It’s business. It’s life. And we love it,” said Robb.

Cattle sales begin at 11 a.m. each Wednesday and sheep and goat sales begin at 1 p.m. on the first and third Saturday of each month.

Special replacement cow consignment sales are held the second Friday of each month beginning at 6 p.m.

Perkins Livestock is located just west of Western Road on state Highway 33. For information, call 547-7522.

     

• Click to discuss this story with other readers on our forums.