No Generation Gap

Posted on April 15, 2011 | Leave a comment

Jerry, Jim and Todd Hertzog are the three generations of Hertzog men that run MO-KAN Livestock Market inButler, MO and the Hertzog Auction Company.  Jim is also known and respected as a strong competitor in the auctioneering competition world.  He has no shortage of awards under his belt and was in last year’s top ten Semi-Finalists at the 2010 WLAC in Oklahoma City, OK.  He will be competing in South Carolina June 24-25 for the title of 2011 WLAC.  His son Todd is following in his footsteps and has recently begun competing in auctioneer competitions and I am sure we will hear more of his chant in the future.

Here is an audio clip of Jim competing at last year’s WLAC in Oklahoma City.

Jim Hertzog Selling at the 2010 WLAC Semi-Finals

 Livestock marketing is tradionally a family business that passes from generation to generation but as the years have progressed we have seen more people diverge and take on careers outside of the family livestock market.  It is always a pleasure to see a successful operation that has stayed in the family.  The Hertzogs not only run MO-KAN Livestock but have also been running a successful auction and real state company since 1967.  They are a diverse family of auctioneers and I tip my hat to them and say thank you for letting me be a part of their sale yesterday.

There was also a guest appearance by 2010 WLAC Runner-Up Champion Charly Cummings, from Yates Center, KS.


You can become a fan of MO-KAN Livestock on Facebook!

 MO-KAN Livestock Market is a highly respected market inMissouriand it was a special treat for NBC Action News to be there to showcase their market.  NBC Action News 41 shot a variety of footage at the market and did interviews with Jim and I.  The full length segment that aired last night can be seen here on NBC Action New’s Website.

One thing I really enjoy about my travels is that I get to reconnect with family and friends I have not seen in a while.  I had the opportunity to do that inButleryesterday.  My Great Aunt Beaty, who is 98, stopped by MO-KAN Livestock to say hi and watch me sell.  She brought her daughters and their husbands with her Leo, Lora Lee, Clark and Vera.  All of them live nearButler.  It was great to have a chance to visit with them.  A special treat was watching the NBC broadcast with them yesterday evening. 

A note about the blog: I will have posts up next week about my trips to Oklahoma and Washington, DC in March.  

http://www.nbcactionnews.com/video/videoplayer.swf?dppversion=8999

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Good Morning Kansas City

Posted on April 15, 2011 | Leave a comment

I am currently on a trip in Missouri and had an awesome day yesterday in Kansas City and Butler.  I had the opportunity to promote the industry I love on television and sell at a highly respected market.  All in all it was a day for the books or in this case, this blog!

There will be two different posts about yesterday and I will put up notes about today as soon as possible!

 I started yesterday morning at the Fox 4 News Station in Kansas City at around 8:00 AM.  Even though I had been briefed before entering the studio I was still a tad nervous about what I had gotten myself into.  In the fifteen minutes before my airtime I met with meteorologist Karli Ritter and news anchors Mark Alford and Loren Halifax.  They gave me a very quick rundown of what would happen and then it was Showtime.

My first job in the studio was to do part of the weather broadcast.  I stood in front of the green screen and did my best to interpret the image I saw on the monitor with numbers and arrows.  Karli seemed impressed by how quickly I picked up the system.  I was happy I made it through without any major stumbles and I hope the unsuspecting citizens of Kansas City understood what I was saying.

 Funny thing happened when I started with the weather, the camera cut off the top of my head/hat.  The cameras are all controlled by a remote and it took them a second of me being on screen to adjust it for my height.  I was almost the headless auctioneer and everyone I know who was watching found it pretty comical.

Next stop in the studio was the anchor desk.  I stood next to news anchor Mark Alford and we did a little segment on auctioneering and then transitioned into talking about the value of livestock markets toKansas City and local communities across the country.  It was nice to have the opportunity to focus on the industry and importance of livestock marketing, not just auctioneering.  He did ask questions about ‘fast talking’ but seemed to understand that livestock auctioneering is more than just spitting out numbers and I appreciate that.

A side note about Mark Alford, he actually is a bit of an auctioneer himself.  He has done some charity auctions in Kansas City and even gave me a sample of his chant on air, cowboy hat on and all.  I gave him some pointers on what to say between the numbers and I hope they helped!  Good luck at your next auction Mark!

 After about an hour at the Fox 4 News studio LMA REO Jeff Hazaleus and I headed off to Butler, Missouri  to check out the sale at MO-KAN Livestock Market, Inc.  It was a relatively short drive and it gave me time to re-group and fully realize that I had just done a weather broadcast and interview LIVE on the News.  What a great day for firsts!

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Greater Midwest Livestock Auctioneer Championship

Posted on March 31, 2011 | Leave a comment

On February 12, 2011 I attended the Greater Midwest Livestock Auctioneer Championship (GMLAC) by St. Onge Livestock in St. Onge, South Dakota.  While I was there supporting my fellow auctioneers I had the opportunity to do a play-by-play type broadcast on KBHB Sturgis 810 AM.  Jim Thompson and I provided on-air commentary during the live broadcast of the competition.  It was a fun way to participate in the contest and I think was a great compliment to the live broadcast of the sale online. 

Though the radio broadcast was fun, the primary reason I was at the GMLAC was to present the GMLA Champion belt buckle.  The buckle was sponsored by Livestock Marketing Association and Tri State Livestock News.  I had the privilege of presenting it to Randy Searer from Savage, Montana the 2011 Greater Midwest Livestock Auctioneer Champion.

World Champion Me, Tri-State Livestock News' Dianna Palmer, Greater Midwest Livestock Auctioneer Champion Randy Searer, Savage, MT and Val Luckett, Val Luckett, Director of the South Dakota Auctioneers Association. Note: this picture was taken from the Tri-State Livestock News website. To view more pictures visit their website at www.tsln.com

 I would like to say thank you to Justin Tupper and the staff at St. Onge Livestock who did a terrific job in organizing the contest.  They generated tremendous support by sponsors and the local community.  It is always refreshing to see a community gather to support the local livestock market.

To learn more about the Greater Midwest Livestock Auctioneer Championship visit their website at http://http://bit.ly/eqGAtv.  You can see the full list of award winners below:

2011 Greater Midwest Livestock Auctioneer Champion- Randy Searer, Savage, MT

1st Runner- Up- Andy White, Ashland, OH

2nd Runner-Up- Justen Murphy, Melrose, IA

Top Ten

Jaxon Allen, Lewistown, MT

Tony Heinze, Dazey, ND

Travis Holck, Ruthton, MN

Brennin Jack, Regina, SK

Jeff Long, Enning, SD

Jeff McGuinness, Billings, MT

Rusty Taylor, White City, KS

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A Visit to Corn Husker Country

Posted on February 9, 2011 | 4 Comments

I had my wisdom teeth yanked out yesterday, so I had a little time to put some thoughts together about my recent trip to Ogallala, NE.

 I first met Dwayne Mays several years ago while I was attending the University of Wyoming in Laramie.  He introduced himself following a benefit auction I was working and invited me over to Ogallala Livestock to sell for a day.  I never could make it fit in my schedule before we moved back to Montana.  A couple of weeks ago, I finally had an opportunity to make that trip!

I was really looking forward to working beside Dwayne and the Schow’s.  Following the contest in Oklahoma City last summer, Dean and Leah offered to drive my new truck for a while, since we were heading the same direction  (Jodie and I hadn’t planned on bringing 2 vehicles home).  So, Dean and one of his grandsons hopped in the Chevy and headed north, while Jodie and I followed.  Our coordination with the weather was impeccable, as we all drove straight to the middle of a Kansas hail storm.  We ended up staying in Concordia, Kansas for the night to let the system blow over and had a good laugh about Dean’s driving and timing.  Jodie and I took off early the next morning in our two separate outfits, but I was honored to have a former World Champ put the first 300 miles on the pickup…and almost just as honored that he was responsible for the first 18 dents!  

                Roy Barta, the LMA Executive Officer for the region picked me up at the airport in North Platte and we had a good visit on our way over to Ogallala.  It was the 55th Annual Stock Show Special at the market and sale day had 7500 head of feeder cattle in the pens and a ring full of buyers!  Dean and I shared some laughs during a few newspaper and TV interviews, and then the sale got underway.  The cattle out of that Sand Hills country are awfully impressive.  There  were loads upon loads of even, green calves throughout the entire day.  I saw some familiar buyers and had a chance to visit with quite a few consignors too.  Mike Nuss even made the trip down from Minitare, Nebraska to say howdy.  Among all the highlights was the chance to visit with Jerry Speck for a while.   Jerry is a former owner of Ogallala Livestock and a very well-known cattle man in this part of the country. 

                The band had a show to play in Billings on Friday night, so I was off and on the plane by 5:30 Friday morning.  A side note about the band- Kyle Shobe and the Walk Em’ Boys- we will be making a guest appearance at the 2011 WLAC Awards Banquet in Greenville, South Carolina! 

A big thank you to Dwayne, Dean and Kevin as well as Scott Van Winkle for the opportunity to be a part of a grand day.  You run a very impressive operation.                                                                                                                                                         

On another note, I’m headed to St. Onge, SD this weekend for the Greater Midwest Auctioneer Championship.  It looks like there are over 40 auctioneers competing and I am excited to see some familiar faces and meet some new ones.  If you’re in the area, you’ll be able to tune in on the radio for the finals.  I’ll have more information about it this week.  Doug Dietterle and Justin Tupper have been working hard at putting that together.

The 4th WLAC Quarterfinal is only a month away in Bloomington, WI.  Can’t believe the Semi-Finals are only 5 months away! 

 If you are not already become a fan of Livestock Marketing Association on Facebook and confirm your attendance to the 2011 WLAC—click on the EVENTS tab!

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LMA Daily News Briefing Appearance Announcement

Posted on January 12, 2011 | Leave a comment

I just wanted to share with you the brief article that was run in today’s LMA Daily News Briefing.  It talks about the Special Sale I will be working with Dean and Kevin Schow at Ogallala Livestock Auction Market, Inc. on January 20th.   Be sure to check out Ogallala’s website and don’t forget to read the rest of today’s livestock marketing news!

3 talented auctioneers, including 2 world champions, working Jan. 20 special sale at Ogallala, Neb., Livestock Auction Market

      If you enjoy the sound of a talented auctioneer, you have three reasons to be at the Ogallala, Neb.,  Livestock Auction Market, Inc. on Jan. 20.

     That’s when World Livestock Auctioneer Champions Kyle Shobe and Dean Schow will work a special cattle sale at the market.

     Also sharing time in the auction block will be Dean’s son, Kevin. He will compete in the 2011 World Livestock Auctioneer Championship (WLAC), in June in Williamston, S.C. 

     Market co-owner and president Dwayne Mays said his very talented team of auctioneers will be selling an expected 7,500 – 8,000 feeder and stocker cattle, “from many of our area’s top producers.”

 Shobe is the current champion.  Dean Schow was named world champion in 1980, following competition in Templeton, Calif.  He and Kevin regularly sell at the Ogallala market.

     Asked about appearing with the Schows, Shobe said, “I believe listening to, and watching talented auctioneers work, is a great way to improve your skills.  Working with a fellow world champion like Dean is bound to be an educational experience for me.

     “And I wish Kevin all the best at this summer’s contest.  He’s shown he’s a very talented auctioneer,” Shobe said.

     This will be Kevin’s fifth time in the contest. He finished among the top ten finalists in 2009 and 2010.

   Dean Schow said he was “excited about the opportunity to work with Kyle. He’s a fine young man, a very talented auctioneer and a great spokesman for (LMA).”

Kevin Schow Selling in the 2010 WLAC Finals

 

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Update in the Auctioneer’s Corner

Posted on January 10, 2011 | Leave a comment

More information about Clarity of Chant/Voice Quality posted in the Auctioneer’s Corner. There are also audio clips available of a few Past World Livestock Auctioneer Champions!

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Merry Christmas

Posted on December 22, 2010 | 1 Comment

For you faithful Blog followers, there’s more to come in 2011! It’s been a flyin’ couple of months and I haven’t made the time to keep the posts current…thanks for your patience. I have a lot to tell you about, so stay tuned, it will be up shortly. For you “younger” auctioneers, I’ll have more talk on “becoming a livestock auctioneer” in January. In the mean time, please feel free to email or call; I’d love to visit with you. Until we meet again, from my family and everyone at LMA, have a wonderful and blessed Christmas and a prosperous New Year!
~KS

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A busy November

Posted on November 24, 2010 | 1 Comment

Wow…it’s been a busy month of November.  I’ve had to transition from Livestock Auctioneer to Antique Auctioneer back to Livestock, to Ranch Equipment to Real Estate and back to Livestock all in a 3 weeks time! 

Following the Burlington Quarterfinal, we held a large 2-day Western Memorabilia auction.  The merchandise was owned by Leonard and Spunky Llewellyn of Martinsdale, MT, and included an original Charles M. Russell letter, a book signed by General George Custer, 12 Bob Scriver bronzes, original western art and many one-of-a-kind historical items.  Cary Aasness, 2005 International Auctioneer Champion from Dalton, Minnesota, and his wife Anita, lent us a hand for the weekend.  It turned out to be a phenomenal couple of days with over 500 registered bidders; everything sold very well.  Beyond the monetary aspect though, the auction was one of the most memorable experiences of my life.  To stand in the presence of four simple pieces of paper, knowing that Charlie Russell himself penned the script, sketch and signature, was absolutely incredible.  The Custer book came out of his personal library at Fort Lincoln, Dakota and was signed in pencil with several marks throughout the book where Custer, in his genuine arrogance, corrected the author’s grammar.   Most importantly, we became very good friends with some people we may have never met, had it not been for the auction business. 

Leonard was born and raised in the small rural community of Martinsdale.  He went on to fly over 150 air combat missions in Vietnam and then piloted Air Force One for Presidents Kennedy and Johnson.  He was literally a living book of  U.S. and western history and quite willing to share the knowledge he had gained in his years of life.  He’s also proof that no matter where we come from, anything is achievable!  Leonard passed away one week following the auction, but we all will cherish the relationship we had with him forever.

The following week we had a large ranch equipment and hay auction, just an hour south of us in Harlowton for the historical Muir Ranch.  The ranch sold recently and this was a liquidation of the equipment and 700 ton of hay.  We got lucky on the weather and had a beautiful day for the auction.  It only warmed up to about 25 degrees, but there was little wind and we had over 300 buyers registered for the sale.  There was plenty of interest in the tractors, feed pickups and Haybusters and again, everything sold very well including the hay, which averaged $57/ton for straight grass. (Considering the fact that hay is in abundant supply in central Montana this year!)

That is a brief update of my most recent endeavors.  From here on out I should have a little more free time to update more frequently.  I apologize for the gap in my posts.  Until we meet again, Happy Thanksgiving and God Bless!

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Posted on November 4, 2010 | Leave a comment

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Busy Busy

Posted on October 28, 2010 | 2 Comments

So I am getting ready to go emcee the third of the 2011 WLAC Quarterfinals in Burlington, Colorado. Life has been really busy since I took off for Ponoka, Alberta. I will have the details of each trip posted up starting this weekend. I will also have the Auctioneer’s Corner’s first video uploaded soon. Between snow, cancelled flights and my road trip in a hog truck, I guess I just overestimated my free time. My apologies for not getting everything up sooner.

I am off to the block! Be sure to catch all of the action live at www.lmaacutions.com and find out who the next 8 auctioneers are that will be competing for the title in June.

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