Integrity, honesty, knowledge
Wheeler’s brand is those three words. Everyone who works here understands that and works toward it daily.
Established 1989
Family-owned. Always has been.
Wheeler Livestock Auction is a cattle sale barn in Osceola, Missouri — built by Burleigh and Doris Wheeler, carried forward by the next generation, and run for buyers and sellers who want honest trade.
Byron Wheeler grew up in the cattle business. His parents ran a cattle buying station and operated cattle of their own; the whole family worked from horseback. He went to auctioneer school at 16 because he already knew this was the work.
After working for big area cattle producers and auctioneering out of state, he came home to the barn his parents opened in 1989. In the fall of 2018, Byron and Angela Wheeler, together with Karla Wheeler Waters and Tom Waters, purchased the business and began operating as Wheeler Livestock Auction, Inc.
Byron and Angela both grew up on beef farms in St. Clair County. Karla and Tom operate a successful family row-crop farm in Orrick. Together their livestock knowledge, business experience, and customer-service focus are what they bring to every sale day.
They have added holding pens, shades, and people so the barn can handle more cattle without losing the care. Capacity sits at about 1,500 head before a sale — used often, especially in the fall. Cattle come from a 120-mile radius. Buyers come from a 700- to 800-mile circle around St. Clair County.
Byron Wheeler, in the ring at Osceola.
“It is a true family-owned operation, and always has been. We just do fair, honest business.”
— Byron Wheeler, owner and auctioneer
What we stand for
Every customer counts
The seller with a few head is just as important as the one with 500. Cattle are not going to get lost in the fray.
Cattle treated like our own
Fresh water, good hay, clean lots. Trucking, feed, and shade pens available. Friendly staff willing to help any way we can.
The family
Angela Wheeler
Raised on a St. Clair County beef farm. Co-owner since 2018.
Karla Wheeler Waters
Byron’s sister. Operates a family row-crop farm in Orrick, Missouri.
Tom Waters
Karla’s husband. Row-crop operator and co-owner since 2018.
Family first. Always.
The barn Burleigh and Doris opened in 1989 is still a Wheeler barn. The next generation is already in a vest — same name, same country, same work.
At the barn
Austin Shelby
Keeps track of cattle as they move through the sale.
417-309-1350Sue Hemenway
417-839-9316Jane Hearting
Has clerked at the barn since 1990.
The rest of the crew is made up of familiar employees who have worked for the business for several years. Follow the Facebook page and you’ll meet Byron’s horse Hank — a tough ole’ soul — and a rooster named Wheeler who really runs the place.