Sydney Show an eye opener for Young Auctioneer

MEDIA RELEASE
For Immediate Release
03 May 2017

Sydney Show an eye opener for Young Auctioneer

Twenty-two year old Kurow man Madison Taylor had a busy week at the Sydney Royal Easter Show recently. Not only was he representing New Zealand as a bareback rodeo rider, he was also representing his country as New Zealand’s top young auctioneer.

Mr Taylor was named as the Heartland Bank Young Auctioneer of the Year at the Canterbury A&P Show in November last year. The national competition is hosted and administered by the Canterbury A&P Association and sees young auctioneers from around the country battling it out over two days of practical and theoretical tests.

Part of Mr Taylor’s prize for winning the competition, was a trip to Sydney to get involved with the Australian Livestock and Property Agents Association’s equivalent competition at the Royal Show. He’ll also take part in the 2017 Tru-Test Beef Expo in Feilding in mid-May where he’ll sell the Queen of Hearts.

Mr Taylor’s Sydney trip began with the ALPA Young Auctioneer’s Competition dinner and sponsors night in Darling Harbour.

“There were 350 people at the dinner and at the end of the night the 2016 Australian Champion and myself had to do a charity auction. It was an absolute blast and we made about $20,000 off 12 items. I think the free beer and wine definitely made it easier to draw the bids out of the sponsors!” Mr Taylor said.

The next day was spent at the Show. Mr Taylor had to navigate the “huge” Show to research three steers that he would later sell.

“After finding and researching the stock we’d be selling, we had to sell in an indoor theatre that seats about 3000 people. We sold three steers each. One of my limousin steers made $3400 and only weighed 450 kilos. They had a lot of high-end butchers and steak houses there buying the steers.

“It was a great experience and I loved every minute of it. It was great to also represent New Zealand in rodeo while I was over there. I placed fourth on the first night in the bareback riding but didn’t have much luck after that”.

Along with the experience gained during his trip to Sydney, the young auctioneer from Peter Walsh and Associates said that winning the competition has already had a positive effect on his career.

“It’s really kicked open a few doors, allowing my boss and colleagues to have a bit more faith in my ability to sell confidently. I now sell at my own on-farm lamb sales, calf sales and ewe fairs and I hope my clients see this [the win] as another reason to trust me to get the best value for their stock.

“Entering and winning the Heartland Bank Young Auctioneers Competition has been a great social and learning experience. You get the chance to pit your skills against some of the best gavel bangers in the country. Along with the great feedback from judges, you pick up a lot of different sayings and styles from listening to the others and it really broadens your horizons. As my boss Peter Walsh keeps telling me; ‘the world’s best auctioneer hasn’t been invented yet’”!

The 2017 Heartland Bank Young Auctioneers Competition will take place during the Canterbury A&P Show – 15 to 17 November at Canterbury Agricultural Park. Entries for the competition will open in August.

ENDS

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