Spotlight on the Stockyards

Agriculture isn't all about crops and livestock, it's also about the people who choose to pursue it as a career. Working at the Glasgow Stockyards is tough, and their established, experienced staff work all year long, in and out of all kinds of weather. To find out more about the people working at one of Glasgow's linchpin businesses, the Courier talked to some of their yard hands to get a better feel for their day-to-day lives. We caught up with Mary Abrahamson at Doc Z in Wolf Point on March 19 to ask her about her job.

Abrahamson started by working with Phillips County Vet Clinic's Patty and Dallas Maxwell as their babysitter, and was eventually asked if she wanted to pitch in and be a yard hand in Malta. Abrahamson loves her job, and always makes time in her schedule on Thursdays, no matter what else she is doing, to put in some hours at the stockyard.

Many variables are involved with the work, from the time of year to the people working the pens, and of course, the ranchers. It can also be dangerous. Asked about injuries sustained on the job, Abrahamson said, "Well, I chipped part of my jaw once. Thankfully, it was 40 below, so I couldn't really feel it."

She continued, "Usually the men rush over to make sure we're okay, but we wave them out of the pens. We're fine! We were all just raised this way. You have to be ready."

Abrahamson explained that the most dangerous part of the sorting process is in the "hole," or the spot where the livestock are pushed into the sale ring. The most dangerous animals are the wild cows, which she described as similar to"crazy people," adding, "You can't always tell what they're going to do."

When asked who her role models were, Abrahamson mentioned no one in particular but said she grew up with ranching and livestock, like many of her colleagues and friends. She emphasized that the people are the very best part of working in the Glasgow Stockyards.

Visitors are welcome to attend the auction market to see for themselves how livestock are handled and sold. Look for more Spotlight on the Stockyard in the upcoming edition of Farm & Ranch (available April 6). For more information about visiting or patronizing a sale, call 228-9306.