
LMAC's 25th annual Canadian Livestock Auctioneer Championship
Surrounded by veteran auctioneers, rookie Gary Ablbrecht, Milverton, Ont., far right, chews his lip during the opening ceremonies of the Livestock Markets Association of Canada's 25th Canadian Livestock Auctioneer Championship held at the Ontario Livestock Exchange in Waterloo, May 24, 2024.
Photo: All images by Diana Martin
LMAC's 25th annual Canadian Livestock Auctioneer Championship
Bidders and observers packed the Ontario Livestock Exchange in Waterloo, Ont., May 24, 2024, for the Livestock Markets Association of Canada's 25th Canadian Livestock Auctioneer Championship, where 24 veteran and 11 rookie auctioneers vied for the title of Grand Champion.
Photo: Diana Martin
LMAC's 25th annual Canadian Livestock Auctioneer Championship
Albertan Joe Perlich of Perlich Bros. Auction Mart Ltd lays out a rhythmic chant during the Canadian Livestock Auctioneer Championship on May 24, 2024, at the Ontario Livestock Exchange but, unfortunately, didn't secure a spot in the finals.
Photo: Diana Martin
LMAC's 25th annual Canadian Livestock Auctioneer Championship
Ross McCall, left, peers over at Judge Dave Williams's score sheet, which denotes points for the competitor's clarity, voice control, chant, professionalism, enthusiasm and general impression, all marked in addition to the personal interview.
Photo: Diana Martin
LMAC's 25th annual Canadian Livestock Auctioneer Championship
Neil Martin, Mardale Livestock, tracks each competitor's performance, jotting down comments and potential top 10 finalists during the 25th Canadian Livestock Auctioneer Championship. Martin was part of the 2019 judges’ panel.
Photo: Diana Martin
LMAC's 25th annual Canadian Livestock Auctioneer Championship
Auctioneers must keep a sharp eye out for the subtle tell-tale signs of a bid, including the thumbs up, left, and the slight lift of a pinky finger, right, from the buyers while attempting to get the best price for the sellers.
Photo: Diana Martin
LMAC's 25th annual Canadian Livestock Auctioneer Championship
Albertan Rob Bergevin, Foothills Auctioneers Inc., chants, gestures and scans the crowd for bids under the watchful eye of a cow during the Canadian Livestock Auctioneer Championship on May 24, 2024, at the Ontario Livestock Exchange.
Photo: Diana Martin
LMAC's 25th annual Canadian Livestock Auctioneer Championship
Buyer Dave Clark, Clark Bros Canadian Livestock, celebrates a win after a fast-paced bidding war on a draft of cattle at Ontario Livestock Exchange during the Canadian Auctioneer Championships on May 24.
Photo: Diana Martin
LMAC's 25th annual Canadian Livestock Auctioneer Championship
Buyers and sellers track the sale prices of each draft of cattle during the competition, which is no different from a regular auction day.
Photo: Diana Martin
LMAC's 25th annual Canadian Livestock Auctioneer Championship
Sunnette Kamffer, right, films boyfriend and rookie competitor Ty Cutler, Whitehead Livestock in Saskatchewan, during the first round at the Canadian Livestock Auctioneer Championship. Cutler, who turns 21 on June 12, placed third overall out of 35 competitors.
Photo: Diana Martin
LMAC's 25th annual Canadian Livestock Auctioneer Championship
Lars Deleeuw, left, pulls a number from a hat, deciding which order the final 10 auctioneers will compete in.
Photo: Diana Martin
LMAC's 25th annual Canadian Livestock Auctioneer Championship
Judge Todd Hudson, from JGL Livestock in Saskatchewan, gives nothing away as competitor after competitor chants their way through the Canadian Livestock Auctioneering Championship on May 24, 2024.
Photo: Diana Martin
LMAC's 25th annual Canadian Livestock Auctioneer Championship
Cattle handlers move the cattle during the auction, allowing buyers and auctioneers a clear view of what’s being sold and the temperament of the animals. This sometimes includes taking refuge behind the ringside metal barrier when the group is large or overly interactive.
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LMAC's 25th annual Canadian Livestock Auctioneer Championship
The air hung heavy with humidity in the Ontario Livestock Exchange as competitors sold draft after draft of cattle. The long day began taking its toll on buyers and judges alike, who started to wilt under the heat during the Canadian Livestock Auctioneer Championship on May 24, 2024.
Photo: Diana Martin
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Canadian Livestock Auctioneer Championship competitors watch over the proceedings, sharing a laugh or studying the judges during the finals.
Photo: Diana Martin
LMAC's 25th annual Canadian Livestock Auctioneer Championship
Self-taught auctioneer Lars Deleeuw, 19, made Livestock Markets Association of Canada's 25th Canadian Livestock Auctioneer Championship history by being the first and youngest person to win Rookie of the Year and Grand Champion in the same year.
Photo: Diana Martin
A 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 at the Livestock Marketing Association of Canada (LMAC) gala on May 24, 2024 in Waterloo, Ontario. Of the 35 competitors, an unprecedented 30 per cent were rookies, indicating the skill won’t disappear from the live market landscape anytime soon.