The winner of this year's Australian Livestock and Property Agents Victorian Young Auctioneers Competition is a 23-year-old that hails from south of Hamilton.
Elders agent Harry Cozens, who is based in the border region of Albury, NSW, took out the title in a hotly-contested competition.
Mr Cozens, who grew up on a sheep farm south of Hamilton, said he was naturally drawn to the agriculture industry from a young age.
"I started work experience with Kerr & Co Livestock at Hamilton, who gave me an opportunity to get into the job and then from there I really wanted to expand, move away, diversify and expose myself into different situations," he said.
Two years ago he moved to Albury, and now sells prime and store cattle at Corowa, NSW, and Wodonga.
Mr Cozens was runner-up in last year's competition, which gave him the chance to compete in the national competition at the Sydney Royal Show.
He said that experience would help him in the same event next year, but he wouldn't be doing anything differently.
He said he was "feeling good" about taking out the Victorian title.
"It's quite a big build up and quite a nerve-racking experience before the auction, but I'm feeling relieved and very grateful to come away as the winner," he said.
This year's runner-up, 25-year-old Ned Balharrie, Nutrien Ag Solutions, Ballarat, said the second-place win was "bittersweet" given it was his last eligible year to compete.
"Coming to the competition today I just wanted to do my best and thought I'd be very grateful to get a place and I've got that today, so I'm stoked," he said.
Mr Balharrie, who sells store cattle and prime sheep at Ballarat, plans to increase his selling roles in the lead up to the national event and spend time with mentors to tweak his delivery and selling skills.
"It's definitely a tight-knit group here, and you definitely network a lot with different participants," he said.
"You see some enormous improvements in competitors which is great."
Competition judge Colin Jones, Bill Wyndham & Co, Bairnsdale, said it was a tight competition among the agents this year, but the two champions performed up to 10 per cent better.
"I did think the winner stood out fairly well," Mr Jones said.
"His diction and his values were very close to asking price on what the cattle made and I think he came over it extremely well, as did the runner-up."
ALPA chief executive Peter Baldwin said the association was thrilled with the competition, and the 10 young auctioneers were a testament to the industry.
"Victoria can be very proud of their two representatives, I think Ned and Harry will do a sterling job," Mr Baldwin said.
"They sold their hearts out today in is a really-challenging market but they've adapted and that's all we want as auctioneers."
The 10 2023 ALPA Victorian Young Auctioneer Competition finalists included:
- Harry Cozens, Elders Rural Services, Albury
- Ned Balharrie, Nutrien Ag Solutions, Ballarat
- Jacob Brennan, AWN Nelson Livestock, Tatura
- Lochie McLauchlan, Charles Stewart & Co, Colac
- Ryan Carpenter, Nutrien Ag Solutions, Ballarat
- Joshua Chiavaroli, Elders Rural Services, Korumburra
- Campbell Czempinski, Nutrien South Gippsland Livestock, Leongatha
- James Gadd, Elders Rural Services, Ballarat
- Will Holt, Mckean McGregor, Bendigo
- James Wilson, Nutrien Ag Solutions, Bendigo
Holly McGuinness
Holly is a journalist for Australian Community Media, covering South Coast, NSW. As a born and bred Shoalhaven local, she's passionate about covering community concerns and amplifying local voices. To get in contact, email holly.mcguinness@austcommunitymedia.com.au.
Holly is a journalist for Australian Community Media, covering South Coast, NSW. As a born and bred Shoalhaven local, she's passionate about covering community concerns and amplifying local voices. To get in contact, email holly.mcguinness@austcommunitymedia.com.au.
