2026 ALPA Queensland Young Auctioneer Competition runner-up Beau White, Elders, Charters Towers, left, and winner Lachlan Spry, RBV Rural, Emerald.
TEN of Queensland’s best young auctioneers have competed at the 150th Royal Queensland Show (Ekka) in the Australian Livestock & Property Agents Association’s 2026 Queensland Young Auctioneers Competition, with Lachlan Spry from RBV Rural at Emerald taking out first place.
Lachlan delivered a polished and commanding performance to claim title, $500 in prize money and the honour of representing Queensland at the 2027 ALPA National Young Auctioneers Competition at the Sydney Royal Easter Show next year.
Runner-up honours went to Beau White, Elders Rural Services, Charters Towers, whose outstanding performance also earned a place in the national final.
The ten competitors were judged by Peter Dowling from Dowling Livestock and Property at Cloncurry, Beau Frame from Frame Rural Agencies at Blackall and Bill Seeney from Ray White Longreach on their voice, diction, price and manner as they auctioned three led steers and heifers.
ALPA chief executive officer Peter Baldwin congratulated all finalists on the exceptional standard of competition.
“Every one of these young auctioneers should be immensely proud of what they achieved today,” Mr Baldwin said.
“Auctioneering is about far more than calling bids.
“It requires professionalism, market knowledge, confidence, integrity and the ability to earn the trust of buyers and vendors alike. The standard we witnessed today demonstrates that the future of our profession is exceptionally bright.”
Mr Baldwin said the competition continued to produce future leaders for the livestock industry.
“Many past finalists and winners have gone on to become some of Australia’s most respected auctioneers, business leaders and mentors. More recently, Queensland competitors have progressed to the national stage and represented Australia internationally, highlighting the strength of the pathway that begins right here at the Ekka.”
Livestock agent Cyril Close has been heavily involved in tutoring the young auctioneers for a number of years through the ALPA schools.
“We have noticed over the years that the level of expertise in this competition from these young auctioneers coming through our industry, it just gets tighter and tighter every year. And there was no exception again this year,” Mr Close said.
This year’s other finalists were:
- Tom Hukins, GDL, Chinchilla
- Daniel Ford, Nutrien Ag Solutions, Rockhampton
- Kade Buntine, Kennedy Livestock & Property, Blackall
- Billy Swain, TopX Roma, Roma
- Zac Robinson, Nutrien Ag Solutions, Roma
- Lachlan Spry, RBV Rural Pty Ltd, Emerald
- Logan Evans, Elders Rural Services, Roma
- Jack Dougherty, Elders Rural Services, Dalby.
Source – ALPA.
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