Global Auction Blog

Published on Friday, March 21, 2008 at  FarmForum.Net

WORTHING — Competitive livestock marketing at its best will be on display here June 28, when the Sioux Falls Regional Livestock market hosts the 45th annual World Livestock Auctioneer Championship (WLAC).

Thirty-three of North America’s best livestock auctioneers will battle it out for the title of World Livestock Auctioneer Champion and the opportunity to represent his industry for the coming year. The annual contest, spotlighting the auction method of selling livestock and the vital role of the auctioneer in that process, is sponsored and conducted by Livestock Marketing Association (LMA), Kansas City, Mo.

The LMA is North America’s largest membership organization dedicated to supporting, representing and communicating with/for the entire livestock marketing sector.

“All of us at Sioux Falls Regional Livestock are looking forward to hosting the Auctioneer Championship,” said Brad Klostergaard, vice president and co-owner. “This is the ‘World Series’ and ‘Super Bowl’ of the profession, and we invite everyone who enjoys the sound of a good auctioneer to be with us on June 28.”

Klostergaard pointed out the contest is an actual sale, withcattle going through the ring. “That means we will be marketing some of the area’s finest livestock, produced right here in the upper Midwest.”

Sioux Falls Regional Livestock also operates two Iowa livestock markets, Sheldon Livestock in Sheldon, and Tri-State Livestock, Sioux Center.

Thirty-two of the Championship semi-finalists qualified for the Worthing event through four WLAC quarter-final competitions conducted last fall and winter by LMA. The top eight scorers in each quarter-final move on to Worthing in June.

The 33rd contestant is the current International Auctioneer Champion. The WLAC traditionally gives a “bye” into the semi-finals to the winner of this Canadian contest.

LMA President Jim Santomaso, Sterling, Colo., said, “LMA members, all across the country, do much more than provide producers with competitive livestock marketing, the best way to get the best price. Marketing businesses are vital members of their communities, a gathering place for producers, and an important part of their local economy and the livestock industry.

“From the people they employ,” Santomaso said, “to the businesses they support, your local livestock market has an impact, long before and well after the sale is over.”

“Livestock auctioneers have always been an important link in the chain that connects buyers and sellers,” he said, “and we’ve got 33 of the best coming to Worthing.”

The contest starts at 8 a.m. and is open to the public.

Prior to selling cattle at the Saturday contest, the 33 semi-finalists are interviewed by a panel of LMA members on industry issues and topics. This interview will count for ten percent of the semi-finalist’s score.

Saturday morning, the semi-finalists will each sell several drafts of cattle. They are judged by a panel of market owners and professional livestock dealers on vocal clarity and quality, bid-catching ability, the ability to keep the sale moving, and by answering the question, “Would I hire this auctioneer to work for me?”

The 10 top scorers then return for a final round of selling, where the same judging criteria are used. The three titlists - world, reserve and runner-up champion — are announced at an awards banquet the evening of the 28th.

The three winners take home thousands of dollars in cash and prizes, including, for the world champion, a year’s use of a new truck.

The June 28 Championship is the exciting finish to LMA’s annualmeeting, which begins June 26 at the Best Western Ramkota Hotel in Sioux Falls. The meeting offers marketing business owners, and interested producers, the chance to explore a number of key industry issues, and hear knowledgeable speakers on a variety of current topics. For registration and program information, call LMA at 800-821-2048.

The semi-finalists and their hometowns are: Bailey Ballou, Lawton, Okla.; Jeff Bynum, Attalla, Ala., Dan Clark, Winner, S.D.; Lance Cochran, Medford, Okla.; Chuck Cozzitorto, Hilmar, Calif.; Charly Cummings, Yates Center, Kan..; Shannon Davis, Yantis, Texas; Eli Detweiler, Jr., Ruffin, N.C.; Justin Dodson, Welch, Okla.; Eric Duarte, Beatty, Ore.; Dustin Focht, Stillwater, Okla.; Tom Frey, Creston, Iowa; Mike Imbrogno, Atwater, Calif.; Ronald Knopp, Watertown, Tenn.; Lynn Langvardt, Wakefield, Kan.; Brian Little, Wann, Okla.; Matt Lowery, Burwell, Neb.; Martin Machado, Winton, Calif.; Chance Martin, Red Deer, Alberta; Joel T. Martin, Williamston, S.C.; Andrew McDowell, Vandalia, Ill.; Brandon R. Neeley, Berkeley Springs, W.Va.; Ted Odle, Brush, Colo.; Paul Ramirez, Tucson, Ariz.; Lonnie Rudd, Wilder, Idaho; Jason Santomaso, Sterling, Colo.; Kevin Schow, Paxton, Neb.; Rick Shoemaker, Kearney, Neb.; Preston Smith, Lexington, Neb.; Gabe Spikes, Bowie, Texas; Tracy Sullivan, Prague, Okla.; Ty Thompson, Billings, Mont., and Al Wessel, Long Prairie, Minn.

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Benefit fundraising auctions are the new hype in the auction industry! During the last couple of years many auctioneers have been advised through national and individual state auctioneer associations to consider performing benefit fundraising auctions as an additional source of income to bolster their business prospects aside from performing standard auctions.

What are the differences between standard auctions and benefit fundraising auctions? There are many differences from the auction event itself (usually somewhat formal), people attending, venue, and the style of the auction chant used by the auctioneer. The basic differences are that in a standard auction the auctioneer starts high to establish value, and then he drops down until he gets someone to bid. At a benefit fundraising auction the auctioneer will start at a reasonable wholesale value and go up from there.

Why should I perform Benefit Fundraising Auctions you might ask? There are over 10,000 Benefit Fundraising Auctions in the USA every year! How’s that for opportunity? Further, they are a great way to fill your week days or evenings, with weekends still available for your bread and butter auctions. Benefit auctions are much less labor intensive than standard auctions, but they can be equally stressful because you usually have to wear many hats (i.e. Consultant, Babysitter, Peacemaker, Psychologist, Money manager, etc.) in pleasing your clients. This is also something to consider before you choose to become a Benefit Fundraising Auctioneer.

Believe me, I understand that there are many auctioneers out there that have mixed feelings about whether or not to charge a charity organization for your services, but I ask you to consider the following questions. (1) Is your time worth something? (2) If you are asked to donate your services, then ask the auction organizer if anyone else at the event is getting paid (i.e. Sound Engineer, Light Technician, Event Planner, Florist, Caterer, Janitor, Entertainer, etc.)? My motto is this: “If anyone gets paid, then I get paid!” (3) The old clich� phrase: “People value what they pay for”. Weigh the pros and cons for yourself before you make a decision. Having been in the business for eleven years, I have donated my services only once, and that was for a cause that I truly believed in. Other than that one individual example, I have charged for every benefit fundraising auction I have ever performed.

Should I charge a percentage or flat fee? I do know that some auctioneers will charge a percentage for Charity/Benefit Auctions, while some charge only a flat fee, and still others do a combination of both. According to the Association of Fundraising Professionals (AFP), as specified in their Code of Ethics, fundraisers should charge either an hourly rate or flat fee. Of course, this is up to you.

I used to charge a percentage, but I have moved away from that method of payment to strictly charging a flat fee plus expenses. Even though I am member of AFP, I realized prior to my joining AFP that my client’s perception of auctioneers who charge a percentage is not always positive. For example, if the auction does incredibly well, then the client often feels as though you have taken something undeserved and extra from them. When you charge a flat fee your client will know exactly what they are paying upfront, regardless of whether your Benefit Fundraising Auction grosses $10,000 or $1,000,000.

As for marketing, let your imagination be your guide. For starters try churches, schools, libraries, etc. One word of advice I have for all of you is don’t overestimate your normal auctioneer abilities as being an expert in a field that you know nothing at all about. I have seen too many auctioneers attempt to perform very important benefit fundraising auctions (i.e. Art & Wine, etc.) only to fail miserably, because they thought they could fake it. Even if there is a master of ceremonies who describes and discusses the item, don’t be fooled into this false sense of security. There is no harm in telling a client, or potential client, “I don’t feel comfortable with the material being auctioned.” They will respect you more for telling them the truth. In the meantime, if you aspire to be an Art or Wine Auctioneer, then study, study, study until you are an expert, and then go for the big events.

For the most part benefit fundraising auctions can be a real opportunity to go to the next level in your career. I have been all over the country, and I have participated in some very unique and worthwhile experiences. A mentor of mine once asked me, “Are you ready to go travel by private jet, yacht, etc? Do you want to see the world? Are you ready to live a life that others dream about?” Truthfully, when he said this to me, I was terrified, but I also felt the exhilaration of the challenge. I have made my choice, and my career has benefited ever since then.

Tom DiNardo is co-owner of DiNardo & Lord Auctioneers of Anacortes, WA. Tom is an Auctioneer, Appraiser, and Writer.

To contact Tom, visit www.DiNardoandLordAuctioneers.com

(c) 2004 Tom DiNardo - All rights reserved.

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Couldn’t resist John Michael Montgomery with Sold ! The Grundy County Auction Incident

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We are launching a new feature today where we will spotlight a great auction video from YouTube. If you know of any outstanding ones please let us know.

To start this new new segment , I couldn’t think of any better video to show than Leroy Van Dyke singing the Auctioneer Song.

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