Practice makes perfect and Travis Rogers proved it.
After entering auctioneer competitions for six years, he has an international title on his list of accomplishments.
The 36-year-old auctioneer and beef producer from Rochester, Alta., is the 2014 Calgary Stampede international livestock champion. Last year he was runner up at the same competition and was also the 2013 Canadian livestock auctioneer champion.
Rogers graduated from the Auctioneer Training Centre of Canada in 2001 and sells for North Central Livestock in Clyde, Alta. He works with his father, Garth, and brother, Justin, who also entered the Calgary event where 26 men from across North America practiced their tongue twisting sales pitches before judges.
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The grand champion auctioneer receives $5,000 cash and a silver custom-designed belt buckle.
When he is not on the ranch at Rochester, where the family runs about 500 cows and 400 replacement heifers, Rogers is selling cattle and working at car auctions.
He says livestock sales are his favourite, particularly this year when record prices are set almost every week.
“It’s a good time to be in the business,” he said.
The reserve champion is Dan Clark from Winner, South Dakota, who was awarded $1,000. The top rookie was Tyler Slawinski of McCreary, Man.
