07/21/05 Auctioneers

It seems for every aspect of livestock production there is a contest to see who is the best at a particular job. I'm Jeff Keane; I'll tell you about a fast and furious contest in one minute. In livestock work and production it seems when two or more people do the same job it's a foregone conclusion a contest will break out. That's how rodeo started, that's why there are sheep shearing contests, livestock judging and showing contests, and cattle sorting events. Well, the marketing side of the livestock business has its contest alsoan auctioneering contest. Almost everyone likes to go to any kind of auction and listen to the auctioneer's chant. The Livestock Marketing Association held its 42nd annual World Livestock Auctioneering Championship contest in Tulsa, Oklahoma on June 18th 2005. Thirty-one contestants from Canada and the United States were interviewed before the actual selling of cattle. As auctioneers sold several groups of cattle they were scored by ringside judges for vocal clarity and quality, ability to find bid-makers in a crowd, and talent for keeping the sale moving. The interview scores and the selling technique scores were added to determine the top ten contestants. These ten were judged again as they sold more cattle. When the last microphone cooled down, Ron Kreis, Adamsville, Ohio was the champion. Ty Thompson, Billings, Montana was second and first runner-up was Justin Dodson, Welch, Oklahoma. The winner received a cash award, a diamond ring, buckle, saddle, and use of a pick-up for one year. Next time you're at an auction maybe you could practice to yourself or even practice judging. I'm Jeff Keane.