A young Victorian auctioneer in action at a previous competition at Pakenham.

VICTORIA’S best young livestock auctioneers will compete in the 2018 Australian Livestock & Property Agents Association Victorian Young Auctioneers Competition next month.

The competition will begin at 11:30 am on Monday 10 September at the Victorian Livestock Exchange in Pakenham.

This year’s contestants are: Joe Allen, Elders, Euroa; Ryan Bajada, Rodwells, Sale; Jacob Brennan, Mulcahy Nelson Livestock, Tatura; Alex Buckingham, Landmark Wangaratta; Nicholas Farley, Landmark Bendigo; Dane Kelsey, Alex Scott & Staff, Korumburra; Joshua McDonald, SKB Rodwells, Warrnambool; Reiley Murtagh, Corcoran Parker, Wodonga; Mick O’Callaghan, Sharp Fullgrabe & Co, Bairnsdale, Matthew Rowlands, BR + C Agents, Swan Hill.

The 29th ALPA Victorian Young Auctioneers Competition will again be held in partnership with the Royal Agricultural Society of Victoria.

The competitors will sell commercial cattle that are judged as part of the Royal Melbourne Show Prime Stock Competition. The competition will be livestreamed.

ALPA said one of the association’s main objectives is to provide training programs to its members and the longevity of these competitions is a testament to the education ALPA provides. Each competitor attended an auctioneer’s school held in Bendigo earlier this year where experienced auctioneers assisted the participants to improve their auctioneering skills while speech pathologists provided tips related to voice conservation and care.

The ten finalists will be competing for the title of 2018 ALPA Victorian Young Auctioneer as well as the Graham Lanyon Shield. The winner and runner up will also have the opportunity to represent Victoria at the 2019 ALPA National Young Auctioneers Competition, held in Sydney at the Royal Easter Show next April.

Competitors will be judged by three experienced industry judges on diction, values, voice and manner. They must establish their own presence and unique style to deliver a memorable performance that is worthy of a title.

The night before the competition, industry members and friends and families of the competitors, will gather to attend the annual ALPA Victorian Young Auctioneers Dinner. The dinner is a celebration of the young auctioneers and the agency industry. A highlight of the night will be the charity auction hosted by last year’s ALPA Victorian Young Auctioneers winner, Murray Bennett from Landmark Wangaratta. This year ALPA will be raising funds to support the work of Legacy Australia, a charity dedicated to caring for the families of our incapacitated and deceased veterans.