Established in 1922, Equity Cooperative Livestock Sales Association aids producers in the marketing, managing and financing of their agricultural businesses. Equity operates 12 locations and has collection points in Ettrick, Wisconsin, and Menominee, Michigan, and has a hog and cattle marketing center in Arlington, Wisconsin. Please take some time to explore the many facets of our cooperative.
College & Technical College Scholarships
Equity Cooperative Livestock announces its 2021 scholarship program. The cooperative will award $11,500 in total scholarships (one $1,000 scholarship recipient selected in each of the 10 districts), as well as two $750 scholarships for students earning degrees from technical colleges or short courses.
Click here to see eligibility requirements. Candidates must meet these requirements and send in an official transcript and three letters of reference together by November 30, 2020. Award winners will be announced in January, after being selected from an outside soure.
Click on "More" under Scholarship Form listed below to access and submit. Print a copy for yourself prior to submitting, as there is no way of saving the completed document to your computer. Once submitted and authorized, you will receive a confirmation email from http://jschyvinck@equitycoop.com.
Our 2021 calendar will feature barn quilts. Please send us your favorite by October 16, 2020, to be considered. For each photo entered, include name of photographer with address, phone, email, and location of where the photo was taken. Click here for more details.
Markets Receive Organic Certification
Equity Cooperative Livestock is pleased to announce that it's Bonduel and Stratford markets are certified organic! The cooperative's Sparta market has been certified and marketing cattle this way since last fall. Approval was granted by Nature's International Certification Services (NCIS), USDA's National Organic Program (NOP).
"The organic certification is another step we've taken toward meeting our producer's livestock marketing needs," says Curt Larson, President and CEO. "Bonduel and Stratford will join Sparta in marketing organic livestock at the same commission as conventional livestock. Equity is not charging extra for this premium service."
COVID-19 Update
NO SPECTATORS As we attempt to comply with Governmental Orders and Directives in order to continue providing livestock marketing services, we cannot permit entrance to anyone who is not an employee or active buyer.
NO SELLERS INSIDE THE BARN OR OFFICE We very much value the partnerships we have with our livestock sellers. For their health and wellbeing as well as that of our emplolyees, we are restricting all sellers to the unloading docks only. Please deliver your livestock and promptly depart the facility. Should you absolutely not be able to wait for the mail to deliver your check, please call the market office. We will be setting a very narrow window of time for checks to be delivered in the parking lot in a drive thru manner.
If you are a new buyer, registration to purchase at our markets is required and for your convenience, a Buyer Application Form is located below which can be faxed to 608-356-0117 or emailed to jking@equitycoop.com before sale day.
If so, please go to BQA.org to renew today. If you do not have access to the internet, contact your local market staff as they can assist you in completing or renewing online.
Once renewed, please be sure to send updated certificate to BQA@equitycoop.com. Thank you!
BQA Requirements
NOTICE >>> One of our largest buyers only purchase cattle from suppliers who have been certified in a BQA (Beef Quality Assurance) or FARM program. This requirement is implemented in all markets (including non-Equity markets) and all private treaty transactions. Equity announces BQA certification status during sales. Please keep your certification status updated with your local markiet. BQA certification can be achieved by logging in on the BQA website at http://www.bqa.org and signing up for one of the free courses which best fit your particular operation. These courses are based on industry accepted practices that a vast majority of producers currently employ.
Upon certification orre-certification, please provide your name and the name of any entity you sell under, as well as your address, phone number, certification number and expiration date to us at Equity, so we can make the proper announcement at the time of sale. You may contact your local Equity auction market, Equity field representative, Equity’s home office (800-362-3989), or email us at BQA@equitycoop.com. Thank you for your attention.
It is important that you consign your cattle prior to a sale. It is also recommended that feeder cattle are castrated, weaned, dehorned,vaccinated and wormed. Please complete this checklist so Equity can announce during our sales. Call your local Equity market for on-farm visits and to consign cattle. Utilize the checklist shown below. Checklist
Tips to assist you in getting the most value for your feeder cattle can be found here.
Equity Receives Organic Certification
Equity's Sparta market is pleased to announce their organic certifications from Nature’s International Certification Services (NICS). Sales are set for every Monday in Sparta at 12 p.m..
Organic producers are urged to call Scott in Sparta at (608) 269-3104 or on his cell at (608) 434-4043 for organic livestock auction sales and private treaty sales.
Equity Cooperative Livestock Sales Association is committed to providing marketing for sheep and goats throughout our market facilities. Our 2020 sheep and goat sale schedule can be found here and is listed below by market location, along with times of sales.
Barron - every 3rd Saturday of the month at 10 a.m.
Johnson Creek - every Monday at 11:30 a.m.
Lomira - last Saturday of the month at 8 a.m.
Monroe - every 3rd Saturday of the month at 10 a.m.
Richland Center - every Monday at 11 a.m. Sparta - 1st and 3rd Monday at 12 p.m.
Stratford - every Wednesday at 11:30 a.m.
Schedules are subject to change due to Holidays, so please contact your local market with any questions or concerns you may have.
If you need help in arranging trucking to any of these locations, please contact us at 800-362-3989, ext. 131 or 133. We thank producers for their continued support and look forward to continuing to work with them for their sheep and goat marketing needs in 2019 and beyond.
InFocus Genetics Program
We are excited to have teamed up with ABS to provide an opportunity for dairy producers to improve the marketability of feeder calves through the InFocus genetics program. If you are interested in learning more about the benefits of our program, please click here for the brochure. Call (800) 362-3989, ext. 131 with any questions.
Cooperatives
A business that is owned and run jointly by its members, who share the profits or benefits. Here are the seven cooperative principles:
