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Mike Lewis
Pratt, Kansas
You’ll find Mike Lewis most days at Pratt Livestock. Thursdays start with an early breakfast discussing the market with customers. He’s right at home at the cattle auction; buyers and sellers make a point to see Mike and hear his thoughts on the market. Mike grew up on a cattle ranch in Kinsley, Kansas. He started working at Kinsley Livestock, his father’s auction, when he was only nine years old. He continued working the auction through his senior year of high school. Mike went to college intending to be a journalist, but after the first year, he knew his heart was in the cattle business. Mike married his high school sweetheart, Ruth, and they moved to Pratt, Kansas to work at Pratt Livestock. Soon after, Mike and Ruth were blessed with three children, daughters, Shawna and Michelle and son, Michael (Jake).
In 1960 Pratt Livestock absorbed the Lyons, KS sale and the Kinsley, KS sale. Pratt Livestock began to grow under Mike’s leadership and in 1962 a new facility was built two and a half miles east of Pratt, at Pratt Livestock’s present location.
In 1979 Mike along with partner, Bob Wilkey, leased the auction from the Wilkey family. Eight years later, in 1987, the auction was purchased by Mike and Bob.
Over the years, the customer base steadily grew. In the spring of 1988 Pratt Livestock sold 12,633 head at a single sale, starting at 8:00 am and completing at midnight. 1988 was a banner year for the auction with a year-end total of 300,300 head sold. Pratt Livestock has continually sold 160,000 -280,000 cattle per year, making it one of a hand full of markets the industry follows to set the price of cattle each week.
Mike has never considered his work a job. He loves what he does and has always valued the people and the friendship’s they have made. Cattle producers and cattle buyers, he feels, are some of the finest people in the world. A handshake still means something in the cattle industry. Through the years, he has had the pleasure of working with top notch employees as well as first, second, and third generation customers.
Pratt Livestock has always been a family affair. Mike credits wife, Ruth, who has worked tirelessly by his side, and son, Jake, whose long hours and devotion get things right. Mike’s late brother, Van Lewis of Dodge City, was often the highest volume order buyer at Pratt Livestock and was well known in the industry as a premier order buyer.
The producers that sell at Pratt Livestock have been Mike's focus for almost 60 years. Mike Lewis represents a true Cattlemen; he knows cattle, knows the market, is honest in his dealings, and loves what he does.