They say that beauty is in the eye of the beholder, and that beauty is turning into a new marketing opportunity for Equity Cooperative Livestock Sales Association.

Curt Larson, President and CEO of Equity Livestock says their acquisition of the former United Livestock Center in Maquoketa, Iowa, is coming along as they focus on replacing scales and updating fences.

The facility in Iowa marks the 12th full-service market that Equity Cooperative Livestock is operating around the Midwest - its second in Iowa.

The yard was owned by Tom Scheckel for 25 years and operated as a livestock yard for the first 10.  He said he'd been renting the facilities out for the past 15.

Larson said he's anticipating having the refurbished facilities ready for business by sometime this fall.