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HomeMy WebLinkAboutHomecoming '87, 1987-07-01, Page 22PAGE A-22. THE CITIZEN, WEDNESDAY, JULY 1, 1987. _Homecoming '87_ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ Brussels Stockyards third largest Ontario yard The little village of Brussels is home to one of Huron County’s major industries, the third largest livestock sales yard in Ontario. The huge green barns dominate the landscape on the southeastern approach to the village, Highway 16 from the Kitchener-Waterloo region, but their tidy and well-kept appearance belies the massive volume of business which is conducted under those roofs each week. When Brussels Stockyards Ltd. changed ownership last May, it was averaging sales of more than $1.25 million per week on a year-round basis, up from the $9 million per year it generated in 1970, the year it was purchased by Bruce McCall and five partners. With no major changes planned immediately by the new owners, Klaus and Kirsten Henschel, it is expected the volume of business will continue at the same rate for the near future. The story of Brussels Stockyards is the story of the McCall family in the village: both, in fact, have changed the very profile of the town. In a very earl way, Mr. McCall himself is largely respons­ ible for the village’s most impres­ sive and attractive natural feature, the Maitland Valley Conservation Authority’s (MVCA) Brussels dam and public park, the site of much of the activity during this weekend’s Homecoming celebration. The dam was re-built and the park enhanced in 1984, after a federal grant of more than $260,000 enabled the village, in conjunction with the MVCA, to rehabilitate the area. Although he is modest about his part in the scheme, it is generally felt that it wouldn’t have happened but for Mr. McCall’s presence on the MVCA executive, with friends in high places of several political stripes. Today, Mr. McCall is acting chairman of the MVCA, a position he was able to assume with the sale of the Stockyards last Spring. Under the name of Brussels Livestock Limited, the stockyards was started in the spring of 1958 by two local men, Hugh Pearson and Jack Bryans. From the beginning, the facility sold both pigs and cattle, although the feeling in the area was that ‘ * it would never go. ” In January, 1961, the cattle barns were destroyed by fire, but the quick response from the Brussels and Grey Fire Departments was responsible for saving the pig barns, the sales rings, and the offices. The business was rebuilt and continued to thrive, indicitive of the region’s need for a major sales arena. In 1970, Mr. McCall was one of six partners who purchased the facility, becoming both general manager and treasurer of the business. The name was changed to Brussels Stockyards Ltd., and during the next ten years, the undercover capacity for cattle was increased from 1,000 to 1,500 head, while the capacity for pigs was increased from a maximum of 500 head in 1970 to a maximum of 2,800 by 1980. In the spring of 1975, the company purchased a neighbour­ ing business from Ernie Bach, and turned this facility into pig sales, increasing the capacity for both pigs and cattle. Ross McCall, Bruce’s son, joined the company the same year, later to become sales manager. In the fall of 1977, Brussels Stockyards again expanded, open­ ing a new stocker and feeder barn to handle western cattle, which come in regularly from Alberta and Saskatchewan, and even from British Columbia. These cattle are sold privately during the week to fill orders given to the stockyards by local customers, while all other livestock is sold by auction. The new facility was opened to improve customer service, and today most of the privately sold cattlearebeing vaccinated, im­ planted with growth hormones, and treated for lice, if the buyer so wishes. The latest major addition to Brussels Stockyards came in the late winter of 1980, when more than $200,000 was invested in further expansion. A new cattle ring, new office facilities, anew lobby, and a newer and larger lunch room were added, as well as an extension to an existing build­ ing to enable the firm to handle up to 2,000 cattle under cover at any one time. Mr. McCall said that the expan­ ded facililties were necessary because the company intended to start selling cattle as they were received, and in the order they are received, and this method requires more holding space on sales days. As well, the original stocker ring had been built for pigs and calves, and had become too small for the volume of feeder cattle being handled. Feeder cattle were to be sold in what used to be the arena for selling fat cattle, which was much larger. New electronic scales were added to speed the process up; as soon as the gate is closed behind an animal in the weighing pen, the scales automatically reads out the proper weight and prints the scale ticket instantly. By pushing a few buttons, the weight is automati­ cally transferred to an electronic readout above the sales ring to facilitate bidding. Except for the western stockers that are sold privately, all types of livestock are sold by auction at Brussels Stockyards, the method of selling preferred by the com­ pany. “We firmly believe in auction selling because it places the product in competitive buying. In otherwords, buyers compete for it, and the price is established mainly on the quality and trend of the marketonthat particular day,’’ Mr. McCall explains. He adds that with this type of market, the seller receives pay- mentimmediatelyafterthe ani­ mals are sold, whereas with other types of marketing, there may be a delay of several days before the farmer receives payment. One Continued on page A-23 The Standard Bank of Canada once occupied a proud position on the east side of Tumberry Street, just south of the present office of The Citizen. Can anyone identify the staff posing at the bank, or the year the photo was taken? Best Wishes to our friends and customers in the VILLAGE OF BRUSSELS 0 Have a great time at our upcoming Birthday Celebrations From All Of Us At... \Ne're proud to be a partf of this growing communityL’V, THOMPSON'S^ MEAT MARKET "Home of the famous Baeker's Bologna" BRUSSELS 887-6294 JR's Shake Shoppe and Texaco Station County Road 12- North end of Brussels 887-6951 Mon.-Fri. 6a.m.-9p.m. Open 7 days a week Saturday 7a.m.-10p.m. Sunday 8a.m.-9p.m.