IN THE MATTER OF THE APPLICATION FOR CHANGE OF OWNERSHIP FOR MONTANA LIVE STOCK AUCTION FINAL ORDER
On August 10, 2026, the Montana Department of Livestock (Department) held a public contested case hearing pursuant to Admin. R. Mont. 32.15.104(2) and 32.15.105(4) on a change of ownership request made by High County Livestock, Inc., which does business as Montana Livestock Auction. The Department retained a hearing examiner to conduct the hearing pursuant to Mont. Code Ann. § 2-4-611, and on August 21, 2026, the hearing examiner issued a Proposed Decision and Recommended Order (Proposed Decision) recommending that the proposed change of ownership be approved.
On August 24, 2026, the parties were served with the Proposed Decision and notified that the Board of Livestock (Board) would review the Proposed Decision at its Board meeting on August 27, 2026. The parties were given an opportunity to submit exceptions pursuant to Mont. Code Ann. § 2-4-621(1) on an expedited basis before the August 27 hearing or to request that this matter be heard by the Board at a later date. No exceptions or requests to continue the hearing were received.
This matter came before the Board for Final Order on August 27, 2026. In preparation for deliberations and decisions reflected in this Final Order, the Board members received and reviewed the entire administrative record of the contested case proceeding before the hearing examiner. Pursuant to Mont. Code Ann. § 2-4-623, the Board renders the final agency action on this contested case. The Board adopts the hearing examiner's Proposed Decision, which is attached and incorporated here as an exhibit.