September 5, 2007

For Immediate Release:

IDAHO AUCTION YARDS REFUSES TO SELL BEDKE CATTLE

In a welcome turn of events the Burley Auction Yards, of Burley, Idaho, has refused to sell 31 head of cattle illegally seized by the Bureau of Land Management (BLM) from Jared and Bruce Bedke of Oakley, Idaho. The livestock were enticed away without due process of law on August 21, 2007.

Nevada Live Stock Association (NLSA) Chairman, David Holmgren, spoke with Merv May, co-owner of the Burley Auction Yards, just hours before the Bedke cattle were to be auctioned off. Holmgren informed May of what had happened here in Nevada under similar circumstances. “I cautioned him [May] that he should be considering the Livestock Marketing Association’s (LMA) stand on his selling BLM seized livestock,” said Holmgren.

“The Auction Yards co-owner, Merv May, after talking with the LMA, personally told me that he and Lance Udy [co-owner] had instructed the BLM to get the cattle out of here [Burley Auction Yards],” said Bedke. “It wasn’t two hours and the BLM took them again even though I had made a written demand for them,” stated Bedke. Bedke and his family and friends were at the auction yards and were prepared to make a plea to the local bidders to not buy stolen cattle.

The NLSA commends Merv May and Lance Udy of the Burley Auction Yards for representing those who sell livestock through their yards.

“There is no mystery here. The BLM bandits are moving these livestock around in the state of Idaho, with no lawful permits under state brand law. Jared and Bruce Bedke have not signed any brand inspections or transport permits for their branded livestock,” said Holmgren.

The BLM has taken the Bedkes’ livestock to the BLM’s Burley Operations and Fire Warehouse according to the South Idaho Press’s August 31, 2007 edition. www.southidahopress.com/content/current/front/printedition.pdf

The NLSA represents one-third of Nevada’s rangeland ranching families.

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9732 State Route 435, #305
Sparks, Nevada 89436
775.424.0570
FAX 775.424.0571
www.nevadalivestock.org
Contacts: David Holmgren, Chairman, 775.312.0019