Three Albertans will go up against more than 100 Americans to compete in the World Series of the auctioneering profession.
“Well, you guys would call it the Stanley Cup,” said John McBride, director of information for the contest.
McBride said competitors at the World Livestock Auctioneer Championship have a chance to win cash and prizes, but also prestige.
“I think if you ask any of these auctioneers, just having the title of world champion is worth it all,” he said.
The three Albertan contestants, Shawn Gist, Dean Edge and Chance Martin, all work at Vold, Jones and Vold Auction Co. of Ponoka, Alta.
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Danny Skeels, the 2004 world champion and head auctioneer for the company, can attest to the importance of the competition. He said healthy competition is good for an auctioneer’s skills.
“I think we have a way stronger field of auctioneers working for us because of the contest,” Skeels said.
Gist, of Westerose, Alta., will enter the match for the first time.
“I feel pretty good, a little nervous. (They’ve got) pretty high quality auctioneers down there,” said Gist.
“You enter it looking to win, but you also enter it looking to gain lots of experience.”
The first of three regional competitions will be held in Madras, Oregon, on Oct. 16. Gist, along with Edge of Rimbey, Alta., and Martin of Red Deer will participate in Madras with 22 other contestants. A fourth regional competition will be held in January 2007.
The top eight participants of each regional competition move on to the finals to be held June 16 in Springfield, Montana.
