Mark Holt catches bids for the auctioneer at the Harrell Hereford Ranch's annual sale March 4, 2024.

SALMON CREEK — Attendance was strong at this year’s Harrell/Mackenzie cattle and horse auction, as ranchers from across the country convened amid the thawing of an icy half inch of snow at the Harrell Ranch along Salmon Creek west of Baker City.

The cold didn’t diminish enthusiasm, and business was brisk as Hereford and Angus cattle, along with horses, went on the auction block March 4.

It was the Harrell ranch’s 45th annual spring sale, and the 16th horse sale.

“There was a wonderful preview party last night, and dinner of prime rib, soft potatoes and beans,” said ranch matriarch Edna Harrell. “The barn was full — there might have been two to three hundred people here. Everyone enjoys visiting.”

She sat outside with her longtime friend Sandra Payton, handing out itineraries, catalogs and doughnuts, and taking the time to personally greet everyone coming through, clients and spectators alike.

Harrell’s family, alongside the Mackenzies, have handled the auctions since the late 1970s when they established the site, and have since built a dedicated barn furnished with a secure viewing pen and the ability to simultaneously televise the auctions nationwide.

“We don’t sell our animals to market,” Edna said. “We sell the genetics to other ranchers, other operations. Demand and supply, supply and demand — I learned that in school. Economics.”

Her son, Bob Harrell Jr., runs most of the operation from the auctioneer’s booth, with dozens attending online and through the televised broadcast.

Bob opened the 45th auction by honoring the ranch’s patriarch, Bob Harrell Sr., who died in November at age 85.

“We’re going to miss him greatly, but we’re very appreciative for what he allowed us kids to do,” said Bob Jr. “Him and my mom started this operation. Hopefully, we can kind of carry it on and pass it on to our kids.”

Bob Harrell Jr. also took time to earnestly thank the families, the workers, and the communities connected through the event, as well as appreciation for the deluxe meal served at the gathering.

The first bull on in the viewing box delivered a $17,500 return.

Working the crowd, spotters flagged bids to the auctioneer as he pattered through a selection of cattle and horses at full pace.

Bid spotter Mark Holt says he’s a former representative of the Hereford association, so he knows the business inside and out, and anticipated a boom year for the auction.

“Cow numbers are down, price is up, simple economics” Holt said. “That demand will be there, the quality is second to none. I used to travel all over the West, this is the best sale, the best quality of genetics, bulls, heifers, horses, all of them.”

In the crowd, Gerald and Allison High arrived by flight from their Pennsylvania property to see the quarter horses the Mackenzies, who are related to the Harrells, offered.

Others online were bidding, and winning, from far away South Dakota, Georgia and beyond.

Dr. Tom Hill, a retired veterinarian and ranch owner at the event, says he’s attended the auctions since 1975, and was there to have a look at the horses.

“Had the horse preview last night, it’s a really nice offering this year,” Hill said.

The Harrells also raise and sell Corgi cowdogs, though not as part of the auction. The ancient breed is popular for its charm, but in ranching particularly they’re bred to avoid the kicks of cattle and to pursue vermin even into their burrows.

Hard at work in the heart of the sale, Duncan Mackenzie, 24, said he’s helped in all manner of ranch tasks. He was there in part to oversee the sale of his family’s quarter horses, and in part to wrangle some of the immense bulls for viewing.

“They’re actually pretty nice if you meet them,” he said.

He says the 11 horses the Mackenzies supplied, which he’d helped raise from colts, accounted for about half of the horses put into auction.

“Horse prices should be pretty good as the beef prices rise,” Mackenzie said of his mares and geldings, hoping to land near $20,000 on their best stock. “Should be a good year, a great year, markets are up.”

Following the auctions, Harrell said the results were in line with what many had predicted based on the strong cattle market.

“We had a really good sale and a really good crowd and we’re just pleased with the results,”Harrell said.“We’re very appreciative to the friends and customers that come back every year, we’re blessed to be in a good business.”

This year some of the top bull sales will be shipped to Georgia and North Carolina, where ranchers placed bids online. Harrell said he’s delivered animals to Texas, the Dakotas, Nebraska, Minnesota, Oklahoma and all of Oregon’s border states.

“It brings a lot of people to town, we have a very high percentage of repeat customers, but we do see new people every year, which is good,” he said.

“Online was huge, it’s the busy time of year and people are getting more and more comfortable with (internet auctioning), so it’s a great avenue to purchase cattle,” Harrell said. “People who have bought from us before and are confident in our program. They know the cattle are good, and are confident to place a bid.”

“The horse deals keep getting better and better,” Harrell said of the equine market. “We had a filly that brought $32,000 to the business, one gelding at $20,000 and $19,000 on three of them.”