Through the years, there have been several world champion auctioneers sell cattle at Bassett Livestock, including Mike Baxter in 1995 who still calls along with Terry Belville.

Technology came in earnest to the auction business in the early 90’s with office computers, computerized scales and other means to make the cattle exchange as accurate and time-saving as possible.  With a home computer, buyers can even purchase cattle on-line.  On sale day, cameras are focused on the cattle as they come into the ring and an interested buyer can bid on-line as the sale goes on.

Mail-outs of summaries of the weeks sale and upcoming auctions are sent to their huge mailing list.  Newspaper ads and radio reports keep ranchers and feeders informed.  A click onto the Auctions website gives calendar information and sales results for recent sales as well as previous years.  E-mail communication makes for instantaneous confirmation of consignments.

Marketing cattle via satellite
Another technological advancement has been the Video Market, the marketing of cattle via satellite.  Bim Nelson is a representative of the Western Video Market, the marketing of cattle via satellite.  Bim Nelson is a representative of the Western Video Market.  Jeri Nelson said selling by video is gaining in popularity, particularly with ranchers who live considerable distances from the market and have sizable numbers of cattle to sell.

The auction’s contribution to the economy of the area is incalculable.  One cannot imagine Bassett without the “sale barn”.  On sale day, 50 workers and 8 office personnel arrive to do their particular jobs to make the sale run smoothly.  On the Auction’s website are three words: Honesty – Integrity – Quality.  With that motto, it is not surprising that Bassett Livestock Auction is consistently among the top three auctions in Nebraska.

Bassett Livestock Auction and Rich Kinney are synonymous when people think of the progress cattle marketing has taken through the years.  Rich is still very much interested in the cattle market, but live is going at a slower pace these days.  He and Marg have gone on cruises and deep sea fishing vacations.  People may ask what he does for a living, and he jokingly replies, “Well, I used to be the president of the company, but now I’m just the janitor.”