The Northeast Area Livestock Association has been conducting a group mineral order for about 15 years. In the beginning, agent obtained labels from the top minerals to find the one that wast closest to the UK IRM mineral guidelines. A Southern States mineral seemed to be the best mineral on the shelf that could be found locally. Agent obtained bids and the local Southern States Farm Store won the first bid. 

  Agent soon discovered a mineral plant in Fleming County. The NEALA toured the facility and discovered that we could have a mineral blended specifically for us that would meet all the UK IRM Guidelines but they couldn't sell direct to us. We had to go through one of their dealers. Hinton's Mills in Plummers Landing agreed to work with us and submitted a bid on the next order. They easily won the bid since it was manufactured locally and not freight charges. They even delivered the order to the Carter County Extension Office where producers would meet the truck to get their minerals. This grew over time and surrounding counties gained interest in joining with us. Agent went to Rowan County to meet with Agents and the Chairman of the Eastern Foothills Association to describe our system and to work out a plan that would make the plan work for their members. Agent also attended a Beef meeting that was hosted by the Agent in Johnson County where two representatives from Cargill Mineral Company spoke on the importance of a good mineral and what makes one mineral better than another. Agent spoke on the NEALA Group Mineral Order and described our process and invited all participants to join with us. Agent lives in Johnson County and stated that if anyone wanted to try this UK IRM mineral, agent would deliver their orders to Johnson County. 

  As a result of these meetings, and the aid of agents in Johnson and Elliott Counties, 8 or the 11 participants in the Johnson County meeting placed an order totaling 100 bags and agent delivered their minerals to Johnson County. There were also 8 producers from Elliott County that placed an order totaling 130 bags and met the truck at the Carter County Extension Office in Grayson to pick up their orders. A total combined order of the 3 beef associations was 660 bags from 36 producers. By bidding the order, this mineral almost always is $5 cheaper per bag than the best minerals on the shelf and will meet the UK IRM guidelines when the minerals on the shelf do not. A total of $3,300 was saved by the 36 producers in just one order while getting a better mineral at the same time.