Livestock sale barn: Buffalo Livestock Auction changes hands
Buffalo – After 21 years, Jay Godley, the founder of Buffalo Livestock Auction, sold that sale facility to Gregg Matney and his son Danny.
“After 21 years of owning and operating Buffalo Livestock Auction, I have reached an age where I need to slow down a little,” Godley writes in a letter to sale patrons.
“It’s been a great ride for me over the past 21 years, working with and selling livestock for such a fantastic group of people in our marketing area,” Godley adds. “After much thought and a little soul searching, it was decided to let a younger and more energetic person take the reins.”
As a result, he sold the business to the Matneys, who look forward to the chance to continue the legacy at Buffalo Livestock Auction.
The Matneys
Gregg has been in the ranching business for most of his life.
“We’ve had other businesses, but for the most part, ranching has been a big part of my life,” he says. “I like being on the ranch. It’s a great way of life, and it’s been good to me. We’ve always made a good living ranching.”
With Gregg’s experience as a longtime cattleman and the operator of a successful livestock trucking company in Lusk, Godley says, “Gregg and Danny are well positioned will take over the day-to-day operation of Buffalo Livestock Auction.”
Gregg explains, “Jay started talking to me about getting out of the auction a while ago, and it looked like a good opportunity.”
“I’m always looking for a good opportunity, so we jumped at it,” he continues. “This is also a chance for my son and I to work together, which is something I’m looking forward to.”
Danny comments that he’s looking forward to jumping into the new venture, adding, “Dad and I have worked together since I was knee-high to a grasshopper, and we wanted to get into a business where we could both work together. We saw this opportunity, and we jumped at it.”
Goals for the business
Gregg and Danny both note they’re looking forward to continuing the high quality that Godley started at Buffalo Livestock Auction.
“Jay has done an outstanding job,” Danny says. “We’re looking forward to keeping up what Jay has built, while also bringing a few more ideas to the table. Nothing will change drastically. If we can improve at all, we’ll do our best, but we’re going to do our best to keep up what he started.”
Gregg adds that Godley built an excellent facility, and they look forward to continuing and building on that, starting with a horse sale in September.
“We’re going to add a few things to Buffalo, starting with our September horse sale,” he comments. “There hasn’t been a horse sale here for a lot of years.”
For Gregg, getting out into the country, meeting people and developing relationship is also important. He looks forward to visiting with producers across the region, as well.
Godley says, “The Matneys will be implementing some new ideas and thoughts on how to improve and grow Buffalo Livestock Auction. They intend to allocate a lot of time and effort to make this happen.”
He adds, “A high-quality market and solid commitment to both buyers and sellers will not change.”
“Jay did a lot of work to bring production sales in to Buffalo Livestock Auction over the past several years, and we plan to keep those sales as part of the business,” Gregg says.
Sale schedule
Over the next couple months, Buffalo Livestock Auction has a full schedule of sales.
Through the rest of August, sales will continue every other week, with a sale on Aug. 23. In September, sales will be held each week on Wednesdays.
“We’ll have a yearling special on Sept. 6 and a horse sale on Sept. 16,” Gregg says. “In October and November, we’ll have a sale every Wednesday and a special sale every other Monday, starting Oct. 2.”
The Monday sales will be special calf and yearling sales.
New venture
“This is an exciting new venture,” Danny continues. “I’ve never really been around the sale barn much, so for me, it’s going to be a steep learning curve. I’m excited, though, to learn and meet new people.”
He adds, “Buffalo is a really nice community, and I’m looking forward to getting to know everyone up there.”
The Matneys emphasize that they are open to visiting with anyone who has questions, and they are looking forward to serving Wyoming’s agriculture industry at Buffalo Livestock Auction.
“We still believe in the power of a handshake,” Gregg says. “We’re going to do the best we can to bring buyers and sellers alike to Buffalo and keep both sides happy. We’re looking forward to continuing what Jay started here in Buffalo.”
Saige Albert is managing editor of the Wyoming Livestock Roundup. Send comments on this article to saige@wylr.net.
