A Friday afternoon groundbreaking ceremony in Lexington could be the beginning of a new era for the Blue Grass Stockyards.
It was seven months ago when a three-alarm fire destroyed the long time historic home of facility off Forbes Road. Now, government, agriculture, and others in business are celebrating the start of construction for a new stockyards off Iron Works Pike.
Lexington Mayor Jim Gray says Blue Grass Stockyards is to cattle what Keeneland is to Thoroughbreds. The new facility will be situated adjacent to I-75 for easy access for farmers and will include an education center. Environmental controls will be in place to protect ground water.
Last year, about 106,000 animals were sold at the Lexington market, another 50,000 on line.?
