There was a boy from Alberta who wouldn’t listen to his ma
When she told him that he should go to school.
He’d sneak away in the afternoon, take a little walk and pretty soon
You’d find him at the local auction barn.
The Auctioneer, a song expertly recorded by Leroy Van Dyke, (though liberty has been taken with geographic location in the lyrics above) provides a fair approximation of the patter heard at auction sales.
At Canadian Western Agribition, auctioneers’ voices are part and parcel of activities. Although the event has grown to encompass more than cattle shows and sales, it’s plain that the livestock sector is its heart and soul.
Read Also
High prices see cow-calf producers rushing to incorporate
Farm accountants are reporting a steady stream of cow-calf producers rushing to get their operations incorporated ahead of selling their calves this fall.
If you want to put your stock in front of knowledgeable cattle folks, the Agribition show and sales rings are the places to do it.
“It’s a lot easier to buy them this good than to raise ’em,” said auctioneer Steve Dorran at the 40th national Simmental sale Nov. 27, as he encouraged bidding.
With Brian Bouchard giving the back story on each lot, potential buyers didn’t seem to mind the heat and humidity of the auditorium. With some in the stands and some in chairs parked upon the giant CWA logo down on the floor, the auctioneer patter got results.
Said his pappy, “son, we just can’t stand a havin’ a mediocre man
You gotta take that auction usin’ our good name.
I’ll send you off to auction school and then you’ll be nobody’s fool
You can take your place among the best.”
Though the cattle in the ring have better hairdos than most of the people assembled, and are clearly used to being handled, they still startle when the ringmen give their hollers and waves as they spot a bid.
“She’s carrying a four or five thousand dollar coupon,” Bouchard tells the buyers as he gives details on Lot 6, a bred heifer.
Before long, auctioneer Jerry Kanewischer, taking over from Dorran, brings down the gavel at $2,600. And somebody apparently gets an excellent deal.
So from that morning he went to school, there grew a man who played it cool
He came back home a full fledged auctioneer.
And people came from miles around just to hear him make that rhythmic sound
That filled their hearts with such a happy cheer.
“Help yourself, guys,” says Bouchard, as he talks about the cattle. And some do.
45 dollar 50 now 50 dollar 50 dollar 50 dollar 50 dollar give me a holler 50 dollar
Who will bid it at a 50 dollar bill?
50 dollar 55, 55 make it 55 and a 55…
