Though beef cattle raised in Laurel County are of the highest quality, opportunities for marketing beef herds can be costly.  The time and expense of transporting the animals to sale facilities can cause a substantial decrease in profits.  In an ongoing effort to highlight the quality of animals available in Laurel County and offer a local sale opportunity, the Laurel County Cooperative Extension Service and the Laurel County Cattlemen’s Association conducted the eighth annual Open Heifer Sale in April.  Twelve producers from around the area offered a total of 69 quality heifers at the sale.  Each animal was rigorously screened and was subject to a high standard of health and reproductive criteria. The sale, which was advertised through Cow Country News, social media, radio, flyer distribution and direct mailing, brought in 33 bidders from around the state. The average price per head of the animals that sold was $1,034, which was significantly more than the producers would have received if they sold the animals at stockyards.  Additionally, the sale highlighted the quality of animals that are available in Laurel County in hopes that buyers will seek out our local producers for future purchases.  A follow up evaluation of the heifer suppliers found that all twelve producers are looking forward to selling again next spring, and some plan to sell at the Cattlemen’s bred heifer sale in Fall of 2021.