Bollinger County Salebarn used for goat sale

On Tuesday, more than 1,400 goats will be in Bollinger County at the SEMO Meat Goat Producers Association's annual goat sale.

The sale is at the old Bollinger County Salebarn on Highway 51 between Patton and Marble Hill.

Goat producers from as far away as Salem, Mo., will deliver their goats to the sale beginning at 8 a.m., said Katie Godsey, treasurer for the association.

"Collection of this many goats in one place is not a sight a person sees every day," she said. "By far this is the largest sale we've ever had. We are all a little stunned at the turnout."

Godsey said goat producers consign their goats and then the goats are bid on for the price per pound.

The Meat Goat Producers Association promotes the meat goat industry through education of producers and consumers.

"The meat goat industry is growing pretty quickly," Godsey said. "It's a wonderful alternative agricultural industry and producers can make about the same amount of money as the cattle industry."

This will be the first time the Bollinger County Salebarn, which was built in the 1950s, has been used in 15 years, said Wayne Whitner, Bollinger County associate commissioner.