By Larry Stalcup Contributing Editor
For some 115 years, the Oklahoma National Stockyards (ONSY) has been a center for calf and stocker cattle marketing. That tradition persists, as several thousand cattle are sold nearly every week of the year.
But while producers of all sizes haul from two to 200 or more cattle weekly to the site that’s still known as “Packingtown” to Oklahoma old-timers, the planned sale of the ONSY properties was stalled in late August. This adds to worries that the historical “Stockyard City” could be sold to developers who may have hotels and other industrial development in mind.
Last spring, ONSY was placed under contract for purchase by a group led by Oklahoma cattleman and business owner Chris Franklin, according to ONSY’s website and the National Beef Newswire.
The tentative acquisition was to ensure the continued operation of the premier livestock market. The buyer was steadfast in their commitment to maintaining ONSY’s legacy of excellence. “We are excited about this new chapter for the Oklahoma National Stockyards,” Franklin said in the sale announcement.
Nine commission companies operating at ONSY expressed enthusiasm about collaborating with the new ownership. But the sale was abruptly called off on Aug. 27. “We regret to announce that the proposed sales of the Oklahoma National Stockyards to a group rooted in Oklahoma ranching has not come to fruition,” read an ONSY message on its Facebook page.
“While this outcome is disappointing, it renews our focus on finding a buyer who shares our vision: one who values the legacy of the yards and is committed to developing the surrounding area, while preserving our core operations. [ONSY] has served as a vital marketing outlet for cattle producers across Oklahoma and neighboring states for over a century. We fully intend to continue that tradition for generations to come.”
The legendary auction is still a pillar of cattle sales nationwide. It regularly sees 6,000 to more than 8,000 cattle marketed weekly. About 8,100 head were ready for the ring the second week in September. The auction numbers are comparable to other large weekly feeder cattle markets. It has been that way since it was formed three years after Oklahoma became a state in 1907.
ONSY originated after Oklahoma City fathers invited principals in cattle production and processing to establish operations to serve the nation as a primary source of meat processing and packing. By 1915, Morris, Wilson and Armour packing companies all established large packing facilities to slaughter cattle, hogs and sheep. Livestock were transported first by cattle drive and later by railroad and truck.
ONSY’s history cites that the nickname “Packingtown” was soon adopted. Faced with a complete overhaul and updating of equipment, the packing plants decided to close in the early 1960s. However, the stockyards region has remained profitable in cattle trading and related businesses.
The auction was long the nation’s No. 1 feeder cattle market. More than 100 million head of livestock have been sold through ONSY since those early years. It continues as a central point for cattlemen, horsemen, farmers, ranchers and cowboys. Merchants selling western attire and ranching supplies are plentiful. And there’s always a good meal ready to be served (hello, Cattlemen’s Steakhouse).
Monuments and other lasting memories of yesteryear mark the setting on Exchange Ave. Packingtown is only a few miles southwest of downtown OKC’s skyscrapers and the Paycom Center, home of the NBA Champion Oklahoma City Thunder.
While the city sees even further expansion (OKC is set to host several rowing events in the 2028 Summer Olympics), its Western heritage will never fade away. Let’s hope the Oklahoma National Stockyards auctioneers keep the sale ring rocking for decades to come.
