Agriculture
6 August, 2023
Young auctioneers lock horns
JAMES Wilson and Will Holt have often gone head-to-head on Loddon football fields. Now they will face off against each other in October’s Victorian Young Auctioneer Competition where the winner and runner-up head to the Australian Livestock and...
JAMES Wilson and Will Holt have often gone head-to-head on Loddon football fields.
Now they will face off against each other in October’s Victorian Young Auctioneer Competition where the winner and runner-up head to the Australian Livestock and Property Agents Association national competition at the Sydney Royal Easter Show in April.
The local pair were selected for the Victorian final after attending an ALPA auctioneers’ school last month.
Wedderburns’s Will works with Bendigo’s Mc-Kean McGregor, going into the stock and station industry after finishing school three years ago.
“The school was a great week for networking and growing skills to be better at selling ... clearing sales, cattle sales,” he said.
“We worked on our voice and also going into the nitty gritty of covering GST, terms, protocols and reserve items at auctions.”
Will has had the gavel in his hand at Bendigo sheep markets and says the aim is always to get the best possible price.
“You can draft the sheep but when you act as auctioneer yourself, it’s even more engaging,” he said.
James, from Boort, had started university in Melbourne but deferred after being offered a traineeship with Rodwells six years ago.
Now part of Nutrien, James is selling sheep at Bendigo every Monday. “I love the diversity. No two selling days are the same as you strive to achieve the best outcome for clients. It’s not just livestock, the markets are farmers’ livelihoods and an extra $2 for each sheep adds up for them.”
“Will and I have played a fair bit of football against each other. Now were going for a new prize,” he said.