Headwaters Livestock Auction Company Ready to Change Hands
 | Author:
Nancy Marks
Nancy Marks: MT43 News Secretary and News Editor |
Headwaters Livestock Auction Company Ready to Change Hands
Nancy Marks
Headwaters Livestock Auction Company at Three Forks is in the process of being sold. The business has been owned and operated by Jerry and Mary Lane Olson for many years. The prospective buyer is Brandon Blackstock, ex-husband of famed pop rock, country singer Kelly Clarkson.
The sale will affect Broadwater County ranchers who have sold their sheep, cull cows, bulls and fall calves at the yards for many years. According to Swan Land Company broker Mike Swan of Bozeman the sale is pending. It is listed for $3,250,000 and includes a 15- acre proposed subdivision.
Olson will continue as yards manager until the Montana Board of Livestock recertifies the yards under new ownership. He and his wife Mary plan to stay on their ranch west of Three Forks.
Brandon Blackstock who lives in Elk Park, out of Butte . In an interview at the auction yards Monday Blackstock said his ranching roots go way back, when he worked on his grandfather’s ranch in Texas. Blackstock said the property sale has not been completed but said he felt it would go through after appraisal and certification are in place. He hopes to grow the business by attracting more buyers and livestock sellers.. “I feel we can show folks we can easily compete and do a good job getting local ranches premium prices for their animals,” he said.
Asked about the current concerns about water and sewage in the south county, Olson said the yards have two good wells and its own sewage treatment plant which is currently only at 40% capacity. The yards composts its waste and dead animals, which is hauled out for farm fertilizer. “Any improvements either at the yards or in the proposed subdivision would be under the same water and sewer plan and would not reach capacity in any case,” he said.
As far as noise bothering the neighbors, Olson said,” We have never had complaints even though the cattle are bawling before and during every sale both Mondays and Fridays. The only complaint we had is when the goats got out and we could not catch them,” he said.
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PhotoCredit: Nancy Marks
Image 1 Caption: Headwaters Livestock Auction at Three Forks, Mike Swan photo.
Image 2 Caption: Brandon Blackstock, Mary Lane Olson, Jerry Olson pose for a photo at Headwaters Livestock Auction.
