A Garnett agribusiness, that most probably don’t remember ever not being in Garnett, will begin a phased shutdown this week. After more than 80 years, Anderson County Sales Company, the local sale company, traces its roots back to 1939 and provided a traditional weekly livestock and general merchandise auction that served the surrounding area. Three generations of the Ratliff family operated the business, beginning with its purchase in 1957 by Zen Ratliff, followed by his son Max and grandson and present operator Ron and wife Christie Ratliff.
The site on the corner of Park Road and Maple Street will be the site of a new Leisler fueling station and convenience store. Ron Ratliff told the Anderson County Review that the sale of the property had closed. He says he hoped to find a suitable location for a general merchandise auction in the near future. He said he would open a buying station today at the company’s location to buy cattle from local ranchers at negotiated prices, saying providing local buyer’s station, rather than an auction would still provide a local market for the sale of cattle.
