Press Releases

 

Statement from Commissioner of Agriculture Ryan Quarles on Blue Grass Stockyards fire

 

For Immediate Release
Saturday, January 30, 2016
For more information contact:
Angela Blank
(502) 573-0450

 

FRANKFORT, Ky. – “This is truly a sad day for Blue Grass Stockyards and the agricultural community. A historic piece of Kentucky agriculture has been lost, but we are thankful to hear that all stockyard employees escaped the blaze without injury. We also salute the more than 120 firefighters who continue working to contain and put out this massive fire. Our firefighters do a dangerous job with skill and courage, and we appreciate all they do to protect us.

“The Kentucky Department of Agriculture has been in communication with Blue Grass Stockyards and is ready to assist in any way that we can. Our heartfelt prayers go out to the Blue Grass Stockyards owners and employees.

“We are also saddened to learn of the deaths of the cattle that were unable to escape the blaze. Farmers feel a deep responsibility for the well-being of their livestock, and for the owners of these cattle as well as the stockyard workers, this is a great personal loss.

Photos by Tim Thornberry/Kentucky Farm Bureau

“Blue Grass Stockyards is one of the leading cattle sales facilities in the eastern United States, and KDA will work with ownership and management to assure that our producers continue to have access to markets in the midst of this tragedy. It is important that we do all we can to keep the chain of commerce running smoothly.

“Blue Grass Stockyards will be receiving cattle at their Mt. Sterling and Stanford locations on Sunday, and they will sell Monday.”