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Local cattle producers will have a chance to bid on quality bulls without leaving the Yampa Valley April 8 when the North Western Colorado Bull Sale returns to the Routt County Fairgrounds in Hayden.

Consigned animals will include 66 bulls and 20 heifers of the Black Angus and Gelbvieh varieties, along with four Gelbvieh bulls and a Scottish Highland bull at auction for a one-year lease.

Special guest speakers scheduled for 10:30 a.m. are John Heller from the Colorado Department of Agriculture, who will discuss the new animal identification system for cattle, and Rick Furrow, a feed lot manager from Three State Feeders, who will talk about what feed lots look for in feeder animals.

Viewing of the animals begins at 9 a.m. and lunch will be served from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m.

The live auction will begin at 1 p.m. and will be conducted by Craig auctioneer Chad Green.

"This is a great opportunity to support your neighbors," said Marsha Daughenbaugh of the Community Agriculture Alliance. "This sale offers a chance to buy locally, without having to pay travel or lodging expenses."

Another benefit of buying locally is that the animals already are conditioned to the area's climate and altitude, Daughenbaugh said.

The April 8 bull sale is the fourth annual auction, put on each year by the Community Agriculture Alliance, the Routt County Cattlewomen and the Colorado State University Extension Office. The goal is to create a late-season sale that would benefit local cattle producers.

Sellers pay $125 per bull or pen, and are allowed to set a minimum bid for each. Last year's sale saw 41 bulls sold for an average price of more than $2,000, with a total sale amount of $85,550.

For information, call Marsha Daughenbaugh at 879-4370.