South Branch Valley Livestock Exchange

Photo: Connie Twedt
Saturday is a special cattle sale. Vistors are welcome to come watch and eat at the dinner on the second floor for some of the best burgers in the area.

For more than 90 years, the South Branch Valley Stockyards has been a gathering place for farmers, cattlemen, buyers, auctioneers, and families throughout the Potomac Highlands and beyond. Established
in 1935, it is the oldest continuously operating livestock market in West Virginia and remains an important part of Hardy County’s rich agricultural heritage.
The story of livestock marketing in the South Branch Valley began even before the Stockyards opened. In the early 1900s, local cattleman John Miley purchased corn-fattened cattle from farms throughout the region and shipped them by rail to eastern markets, including Baltimore. Long before modern trucks and livestock auctions transformed the industry, the Baltimore & Ohio Railroad provided an important connection between local farms and distant markets. Miley and several partners later became involved in the Stockyards, helping establish a lasting marketplace for area livestock producers.
During World War II and for many years afterward, sheep and lambs were a major part of the Stockyards’ business. The South Branch Valley became known as one of West Virginia’s leading lamb-producing regions, and a typical sale could offer more than 3,000 lambs. Over time, however, the market became increasingly recognized for its high-quality feeder cattle, earning a reputation that extends well beyond West Virginia.
Through the decades, ownership and management have changed, but the Stockyards has remained firmly connected to generations of local families. John Miley’s daughter married John Coffman, a cattle buyer from Shenandoah County, Virginia, who eventually took over its operation. Following the Coffman family, Gary Vance and Roger Pratt became owners in the early 2000s. Roger’s connection to the Stockyards began when he was just 13 years old, working in the back of the sale barn—a childhood job that grew into a lifetime spent serving the agricultural community.
In February 2026, a new chapter began when Brandon and Jaclyn Neely, along with partners David McGee and Travis Hinkle, purchased the Stockyards. Their commitment helped ensure that this historic institution would continue as a livestock market rather than bringing more than nine decades of agricultural tradition to an end.
Today, the familiar chant of the auctioneer still echoes through the sale ring. As the Stockyards approaches its centennial, it remains a living link between the farmers and families of the past and the generations who will carry West Virginia agriculture into the future.

Open Courtesy of the South Branch Valley Stockyards
Location: 341 Clay St., Moorefield