The best young auctioneers from across Victoria will travel to the Victorian Livestock Exchange (VLE) Pakenham to compete in the 2017 Australian Livestock & Property Agents Association (ALPA) Victorian Young Auctioneers Competition.
The competition will begin at 10.30am on Monday, September 11. This year will be the fifth time the event has been held at the VLE Pakenham and the competition has gone from strength to strength in this location and is very highly regarded throughout the industry.
Competitors will auction commercial cattle that have been sourced locally from the Pakenham Stock Agents Association. The cattle will be judged prior to the competition as a part of The Royal Agricultural Society of Victoria (RASV) - Prime Stock Competition.
The competition will be live-streamed with the support of Stock & Land and RMA Network.
The competitors were selected at an ALPA auctioneers school held in Bendigo earlier in the year. The two-day auctioneers school provided auctioneers with an opportunity to develop and improve their auctioneering skills. The attendees received valuable feedback from experienced auctioneers and auction specific tips in relation to voice conservation and care from speech pathologists. One of the association’s main objectives is to provide relevant training programs to its members and the longevity of these competitions is a testament to the education ALPA provides.
The 10 finalists will be competing for the title of 2017 ALPA Victorian Young Auctioneer as well as the Graham Lanyon Shield. The winner and runner up will go on to represent Victoria at the 2018 ALPA National Young Auctioneers Competition, held at the Sydney Royal Easter Show.
Based on their industry experience and strong selling backgrounds, three judges have been selected. They will judge competitors on diction, values, voice and manner. They must establish their own presence and unique style to deliver a performance that is worthy of a title.
The night before the competition, industry members and the competitors’ friends and families will attend the annual ALPA Victorian Young Auctioneers Dinner. The dinner celebrates the young auctioneers and the agency industry. A highlight of the night will be the charity auction hosted by last year’s ALPA Victorian Young Auctioneers winner, Toby Newnham, Elders Swan Hill. The funds will be donated to the John Logan Foundation, a charity that offers financial support to people diagnosed with cancer. The Foundation contributes to the cost of treatments and procedures not available on the Pharmaceutical Benefits Scheme.