Stockyards swan song

The last livestock sales in South St. Paul will take place April 11 at Central Livestock Association near the intersection of Concord and Armour Avenues. Select livestock truckers will be honored at the last special feeder cattle sale, held in the morning.

Guided walking and golf cart tours will be given every 30 minutes throughout the morning. A celebration of stockyards history will include souvenirs and history booklets.

Auctioneer John Barber, who started working for Central Livestock in 1970, will call the final sale.

Schedule of events:

At 9 a.m., a welcome and auction of stockyards memorabilia such as photographs and signs. "You're not going to go home with a cow or anything," joked Deb Griffith, a spokeswoman for the city.

Also at 9 a.m., Gov. Tim Pawlenty is expected to broadcast his WCCO "Good Morning Minnesota" from the stockyards. Pawlenty is a native of South St. Paul.

From 10 a.m. to 3 p.m.: Final livestock auction.

• 800 workers: Sportsman's Guide, an electronic shopping and mail-order house.

• 540 workers: School District No. 6, elementary and secondary schools

• 378 workers: Waterous Co., industrial machinery manufacturing

• 250 workers: Dakota Premium Foods, animal slaughtering and processing

• 205 workers: HealthEast Care Center, community care for seniors

• 150 workers: American Bottling, beverage manufacturing