10/02/2025
Our Story
The West Branch Feeder Calf Sale, Organized on October 25, 1945 by the Northeastern Michigan Hereford Calf Association (NMHCA), was comprised of 600 Hereford feeder calves at the newly constructed sale yards in West Branch, Michigan. Before an estimated crowd of 2,000 people, the first sale of the day was a pen of yearling steers, averaging 927 pounds, to the Alpena Packing Company for $16 per hundred weight. The top price of the sale was $18 per hundred for a pen of Hereford Spring feeder calves.
The NMHCA in 1945 was comprised of approximately 100 commercial cattle breeders from Alcona, Arenac, Iosco, Oscoda and Ogemaw Counties in Northeastern Michigan. While the early sale years focused on predominately Hereford cattle, over the next decade or two other beef breeds were added to the sale mix, prompting the organization to change its name to the West Branch Feeder Calf Association.
Today, the West Branch sale continues to provide premier feeder cattle to buyers on Michigan and the Midwest. While the number of members is less than it was in 1945, the commitment to quality has grown. Now in it's 81st year, the mission of the West Branch Feeder Calf Association remains the same. Provide top quality beef while meeting or exceeding national cattle pre-conditioning standards to ensure the health and safety of all livestock sold.
