Stockyards a true asset

Time after time, the citizens and leaders of Lexington-Fayette County affirm the uniqueness and beauty of our Bluegrass landscape. In a recent study conducted by the Matrix Group, 76 percent of our population valued this signature landscape higher than other items pertinent to Lexington-Fayette County, one of which was public safety. Additionally, the World Monument Fund identifies the inner Bluegrass, which is centered around Lexington, as one of the most important cultural landscapes in the world.

Native Americans recognized the power this land has in terms of raising the highest-quality forage animals long before European settlers arrived from the east. Because of this invaluable resource, we have developed a world-class infrastructure of livestock breeders, feed manufacturers, veterinarians and most importantly, markets for those animals such as Keeneland, Fasig-Tipton and Bluegrass Stockyards.

In 2015 these three markets combined had over $846 million in gross receipts in Fayette County. It may surprise many that $204 million of those receipts came from the Fayette County Bluegrass Stockyards.

One need only visit the satellite facility in nearby Stanford to see a state-of-the-art, environmentally sound plant. Due to demonstrated stewardship, it is worth noting that the Bluegrass Stockyards site that was recently destroyed by a fire has no record of water quality issues.

Aware of its proximity to Town Branch stream, Bluegrass Stockyards took every precaution to eliminate any environmental damages. Lexington should expect nothing less as Bluegrass Stockyards rebuilds the largest livestock market east of the Mississippi.

This story was originally published March 4, 2016 at 8:40 PM with the headline "Stockyards a true asset."