Stratton cattle ring scale has arrived

The ring scale arrived at the Stratton cattle sales yard yesterday and installation is now going ahead of schedule.
Members of the Rainy River Cattlemen’s Association came out to install the 6,000-pound scale, which was delivered by Scaleco of Brandon Man. at 9:30 a.m. yesterday.
The scale arrived in two 3,000-pound pieces that volunteers maneuvered through the doors of the sales barn and onto a prepared foundation.
The pieces were carried in chained to front-end loaders and then pushed into place on steel pipes used as rollers.
The ring scale has been has been an ongoing project for almost three years and those involved are delighted to see it finally all coming together.
“We never thought it would take place. Initially, our plan was to start into it this summer. We feel a little at ease,” said RRCA president Peter Spuzak.
Once the scale is installed, the grandstand will be moved in closer to the ring and offices will be built along with a new auctioneer’s box behind the ring.
All the work is being done by volunteers.
“The overall thing is the willingness of the people to make this work. It’s a tremendous help,” said Spuzak. “Everybody is feeling pretty good.”
The scale will be tested tomorrow morning (Thursday) to see if it complies with government guidelines which ensure stock is weighed in fairly across the board.
The next item on the shopping list is a digital display board, which will let buyers know the weight of the animal as soon as it steps onto the scale.
“We want to be more efficient. We’re doing it so when a person comes in to sell their cattle, we can give them their cheque immediately,” said Spuzak.
Spuzak said that the ring scale and remodelled sales barn should be 85-90 percent completed by the time the spring sale rolls around at the end of April.
“We’ll be full-blown operating for our first sale in the fall,” he noted.
“When I was elected president, this was one of the projects I wanted to do through to fruition,” Spuzak added. “It’s kind of scary it’s going so well.”