Beyond the Auction: The Social Value of Nebraska's Livestock Sale Barns with Marilyn Schlake and Cheryl Burkhart-Kriesel

Livestock sale barns are often thought of as places where cattle are bought and sold. But for many producers, they also serve as important gathering spaces — places to exchange information, build relationships, and stay connected in an industry that can be isolating at times.In this episode of Nebraska FARMcast, Ryan Evans talks with Marilyn Schlake and Dr. Cheryl Burkhart-Kriesel of the Department of Agricultural Economics and Nebraska Extension about their new research on the social value of livestock sale barns in Nebraska. The conversation explores what they observed on sale days, what producers told them about connection and mental well-being, and why these spaces matter to both individuals and rural communities.The research is summarized in the report Beyond the Auction: The Social Impacts of Nebraska’s Livestock Sale Barns, available from the Center for Agricultural Profitability.🔗 Read the full report:https://cap.unl.edu/salebarns