SOUTH Australian Elders auctioneer Ronnie Dix was named Rookie of the Year at the 2016 Calgary Stampede International Livestock Auctioneer Championship at the weekend.

He becomes the second competitor outside of Canada and the United States to win the rookie buckle at the stampede – the other was former William Inglis and Son stock agent Luke Sciclutha in 1999.

Ronnie has been working for Elders for seven years and selling for three years. Over the years he has participated in ALPA auctioneers schools where he has consolidated his auctioneering technique. Ronnie won the 2015 ALPA South Australian Young Auctioneers Competition and the 2016 ALPA National Young Auctioneers Competition at the Sydney Royal Easter Show in March, earning his ticket to Canada.

Each year the national winner travels to Canada to compete in the International Livestock Auctioneer Championship where they are up against much more experienced livestock auctioneers from the USA and Canada, who sell with a very different style to livestock auctioneers here in Australia.

“It was an absolute honour to represent Australia in the International in Canada at the Stampede. I felt very proud,” Ronnie said.

“The people in Canada and everyone on the committee are all very welcoming and would do anything to help you.

“I have thoroughly enjoyed my time so far,” he said.

“I am so lucky to have been afforded this opportunity, thanks to ALPA, Quadrant Australia Ag Tours and Scan Clear in Deniliquin.”

Ronnie had the opportunity to sell at the Innisfail and Panoka Auction Markets in the week leading up to the competition.

“Selling in Innisfail and Panoka was an unreal experience where I had fun showcasing how we do it in Australia, which they absolutely loved.”

Quadrant Australia Ag Tours provide the winner of this competition with a trip to Canada and the International Livestock Auctioneer Championship.

While overseas, Ronnie is travelling with the 2015 ALPA Fairfax Media Agency Award winner, Kelvin Shelley from Australian Wool Network, Victoria. Winning this award has provided national recognition for Kelvin’s marketing initiative and has offered further opportunities in Australia, opening many more avenues. Kelvin has been in Canada collecting information on different farming processes for his clients at home. He hopes to improve their farm productivity by providing feedback on the processes he is experiencing in Canada.

Source: ALPA.