Golden LEAF Foundation has awarded Rockingham County Cooperative Extension $700,000 to build a Livestock Marketing and Educational Complex.
Wentworth, NC: Rockingham County is excited to announce the recent award of $700,000 from the Golden LEAF Foundation Community-Based Grants Initiative to build a Livestock Marketing and Educational Complex. The goal of the project is to increase revenue for local cow-calf operations, extend formal training opportunities, and improve the safety of both farmers and their livestock. The complex will be located in the heart of the County and will be managed by the local Cooperative Extension Center.
“The Livestock Marketing and Educational Complex will help cattle farmers improve profits and offer hands-on training for cattle producers on best practices,” said Golden LEAF President, Chief Executive Officer Scott T. Hamilton. “The Golden LEAF Foundation is pleased to support this project which will enhance agribusiness opportunities in the county.”
Since 2019, Rockingham County Cooperative Extension (RCCE) has worked with several local cattle farmers, or producers, to form the Rockingham County Truckload Alliance (RCTA) as a way to market calves to ensure the most profitable outcome. Without a centralized location, the RCTA currently uses temporary and portable equipment on their own farmland to corral cattle leading to potentially dangerous conditions for the producers and their cattle.
“We are limited to the number of producers who can participate given the current infrastructure,” RCCE Livestock Agent, Brandon Hartman said. “We can only allow so many to join in the Truckload Alliance without running the risk of serious injury. This complex will allow more Rockingham County cattle to be sold at a higher value compared to traditional sales.”
Hartman is referring to a stockyard sale. In his research, it was discovered that Rockingham County farmers participating in stockyard sales were earning, on average, about $215 less, per calf, due to price differences paid at local stockyards. Before the RCTA was formed, individual farmers would travel a minimum 60 miles to sell cattle. During the extended transport, cattle could drop a significant amount of weight which further reduced their dollar value.
“The Truckload Alliance was formed to add additional value to the current product.” Will Strader, the County Extension Director and Field Crops Agent for Rockingham County said, “In doing this, these farmers are not changing their product, they are changing the way they market their product. We hope this complex will not only allow current farmers a safer environment to sell cattle while making top dollar but establish a learning facility to encourage the improvement and expansion of cattle production in our county.”
“When Will and his team brought this to my attention, I recognized the significance this funding would have on our farmers, not just financially but in terms of their safety.” County Manager Lance Metzler stated. “These Golden LEAF awards are designed to offer meaningful change to communities like ours. I was more than happy to recommend this project to the Golden LEAF Foundation for consideration.”
Cooperative Extension staff designed the Rockingham County Livestock Marketing and Educational Complex to be a 120-foot by 60-foot open air structure complete with a drive-through unloading alley, livestock stalls, squeeze and loading chute, an enclosed classroom and two fully functional bathrooms. The bidding process for this County owned and maintained complex will begin in February of 2024. RCCE has set a goal to have the entire building up and running by the end of 2025. Rockingham County would like to thank the Golden LEAF Foundation for this tremendous opportunity.