Elders’ Joe Allen did one better this year, winning the Australian Livestock and Property Agents (ALPA) Victorian Young Auctioneers Competition, after coming runner-up last year.
Held at the Victorian Livestock Exchange at Pakenham, the Euroa territory sales manager was described by the judges as being at ease, with a clear and concise voice.
Mr Allen was pleased to “finally get up”, and said his auctioneering ability came from time spent practicing at saleyards.
“You can prepare for [the competition] as much as you like, but there’s only so much that practicing in the car’s going to do,” Mr Allen said.
“I think there’s no better practice than getting thrown in the deep end and actually selling at the yards.”
He is grateful for being given the opportunity to sell at weekly and monthly sales at Shepparton, Euroa and Yea.
He learned there are multiple factors that come into being a good auctioneer.
“It’s more than just sounding like a two-stroke motor and going ‘bingidibang’, it’s about being clear and knowing prices, knowing your cattle and knowing where your bids are at,” he said.
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He thanked Elders’ Glen Coridas, Tony Pianto and Morgan Davies for being important mentors during his journey.
Happy in his current role with no plans of leaving, Mr Allen will continue practicing his auctioneering ahead of the Sydney Royal Easter Show in 2019, where he will represent Victoria at the National Young Auctioneers Competition.
Also representing Victoria will be runner-up Joshua McDonald, SKB Rodwells, Warrnambool, who credited his success to luck.
“It felt really good [to win], I thought everyone sold really well, but I was one of the lucky ones,” Mr McDonald said.
He has been auctioneering at Warrnambool and Mortlake for the last 18 months at fat markets and store sales multiple times a week, and said this practice was what helped get him over the line.
“The more practice you can do, the better,” he said.
Simon Henderson, Phelan & Henderson & Co, Brian Leslie, Dairy Livestock Services, and Dan Ivone, Paull & Scollard, were the three judges on the panel, who evaluated the 10 auctioneers’ diction, values, voice and manner, as well as unique presence and style.
Mr Leslie and Mr Henderson both agreed the calibre of the competitors was outstanding.
“I would be happy as a vendor to have any of them sell my cattle, and I wouldn’t say that too often,” Mr Leslie said.
He said they were all good on their values, spoke clearly and were well-presented.
He also commended the competitors on their professionalism.
Mr Henderson said the experience behind Mr Allen’s auctioneering, having competed before, really shone through.
“He was just a cut above the rest,” Mr Henderson said.
ALPA chief executive Andy Madigan said the competition supports the training of young stock agents, which is an important part of the industry.
“We are investing in the future of our profession and industry,” Mr Madigan said.