Ontario rookie wins Canadian Livestock Auctioneering Championship
Lars Deleeuw tipped his cowboy hat to the crowd as his rhythmic chant danced from the speakers.
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The 19-year-old self-taught auctioneer from Burford, Ont., swept the 25th annual Canadian Livestock Auctioneering Championship, winning Rookie of the Year and Grand Champion titles at the Livestock Marketing Association of Canada gala May 24.
Why it matters: The Canadian Livestock Auctioneering Championship judges callers on their chant, rhythm, knowledge of the cattle business and control of a sale.
“I did not think I would win the whole thing,” said the rookie auctioneer from Ontario Livestock Exchange. “I would have been just happy with the rookie (buckle). It was a lot of fun overall, but this is a very special moment for sure.”
Within minutes of the win, many auctioneering circuit veterans surrounded him, shaking his hand and clapping his shoulder while his phone alerts pinged with incoming messages of congratulations.
“It’s a very, very exciting moment right now,” Deleeuw said. “I just want to thank everyone, and you know who you are, for all the help. It was much appreciated.”
Rick Wright, LMAC national chair and competition organizer, said it was exciting to announce the youngest champion and the only one to win both categories in the same year in the competition’s 25-year history.
“He’s a gentleman, and he’s the future of our business. He’s got credentials now,” said Wright. “This is going to help him in his career if he decides to make it a full-time profession.”
photo:
Diana Martin
The win is bittersweet because the win eliminates Deleeuw from future competitions, said Wright, though he’s confident the young auctioneer has a bright future in the business.
In the inaugural 1998 competition, a young Tony Chaffe won Rookie of the Year and took home the championship title in the following year, Wright recalled. It eliminated him as a future competitor but solidified his connection to the beef industry.
“He’s no longer an auctioneer, but he’s a big player in the beef industry. We make future cattlemen here, and for Lars, this is probably going to be one of the nights he’ll remember for the rest of his life.”
Deleeuw, who immigrated to Ontario from the Netherlands with his family in 2011, was drawn to the melodic rhythm of auctioneering. Three years ago, he began studying techniques online and contacted a world champion for mentorship.
“I just love the chant, the enthusiasm and the market,” he said. “(It) takes a lot of practice, getting the pop of the tongue rolling along with your words and your numbers.”
The competition was held in Ontario, so Deleeuw said he felt confident knowing where the bids would come from. He was second to compete in both rounds, and noted the interview process was challenging because the questions and answers are tricky.
“It’s not like I’m not going to show up again if I don’t make the top 10 because it’s just a lot of fun,” Deleeuw said during the competition. “It’s about having fun and learning new things.”
His performance in the top-10 final round, combined with the interview, out-scored veteran competitors by a few points. But with 35 strong entrants, the six judges agreed the competition was tough.
“It was easier for me to score them (finalists) than it was picking the top 10 because you feel there’s other ones that could be with them,” said Calvin Kuepfer, first-time judge and 2015 champion. “There was a lot of rookies this year, and they all did a fantastic job.”
Rookies Gary Albrecht, Ryan Kuepfer and Deleeuw all work from the Ontario Livestock Exchange, and Kuepfer mentors them in all aspects of auctioneering.
“I think (mentorship) is very important, and I try to be there for them if they have questions,” he said. “I try to go with them to as many sales as I can, and I get them to help me all the time.”
The championship saw 11 rookies compete against veterans, and rookies won two of the top five placings — Deleeuw and Ty Cutler, a second-generation auctioneer whose father was a Canadian champion.
“I love seeing them young guys come on board and want to be in the industry and the business,” said Kuepfer, adding that the rookies placed well because of their chant, rhythm and knowledge of the cattle business.
”That’s what it takes to be a good auctioneer, and I think they both fit that category.”
Wright said Cutler has been selling for 18 months, is enthusiastic, has an incredible coach and reflects the new generation of auctioneers.
Deleeuw brought his A-game and the title came down to a few points between him and second-time reserve champion and Alberta veteran Tyler Rosehill of Olds Auction Mart.
Albertan Rob Bergevin of Foothills Auctioneers Inc., was runner-up; Dave Jacob of Ontario Stockyards Inc. was second; and rookie Ty Cutler of Whitewood Livestock was third. William “Billy” Haalstra of Ontario Livestock Exchange won the Most Congenial Auctioneer title, voted upon by his peers.
The grand champion also receives a championship ring, a limited edition Ken Frederickson bronze trophy, use of an EBY trailer for a year and entry into the Calgary Stampede’s International Auctioneering Championship.
In 2023, Deleeuw placed ninth overall in the International Auctioneering Championship in Olds, Alta. He said he’ll concentrate on controlling his nerves and selling through the Ontario Livestock Exchange before the July 13 competition.
Source: Farmtario.com