2016 ALPA Victorian Young Auctioneers Competition winner Toby Newnham, Elders Swan Hill, left, with second placegetter Jack Hickey, Elders Camperdown.

VICTORIA will send an all-red team to the 2017 ALPA National Young Auctioneers Competition after two Elders auctioneers took the major placings in the state contest at Pakenham today.

Elders Swan Hill agent Toby Newnham, 25, won the state competition at the Victorian Livestock Exchange’s Pakenham saleyards today, with Elders Camperdown agent Jack Hickey, 25, placing second in the Australian Livestock & Property Agents Association competition.

Co-judge Bernie Grant said all contestants did a great job and it was only “their polish and patter” that distinguished Toby and Jack in a very close contest.

Toby and Jack will next year represent Victoria at the Sydney Royal Easter Show in the 2017 ALPA National Young Auctioneers Competition.

Chairman of the ALPA Victorian Young Auctioneers Committee Rob Bolton, said he was proud of all the competitors who did an outstanding job.

“The future of our industry is in excellent hands. It was a tough competition and all the competitors can be proud of how well they sold today,” he said.

“It is a pleasure to watch the effort these young agents put into improving their auctioneering skills.”

The young auctioneers, from left, in the back row, Sam Broomby, Elders Casterton; Murray Bennett, Landmark Wangaratta; Jamie Quinlan, Elders Pakenham; Dylan Praolini, Southern Grampians Livestock & Real Estate Hamilton; Ben McVean, Rodwells & Co Warrnambool. Front row, from left, Levi Cornish, Rodwells Shepparton; Toby Newnham, Elders Swan Hill; Jack Hickey, Elders Camperdown, and; Lachlan McAllister, Elders Bendigo.

The other finalists in the Victorian competition were Sam Broomby, Elders Casterton; Murray Bennett, Landmark Wangaratta; Jamie Quinlan, Elders Pakenham; Dylan Praolini, Southern Grampians Livestock and Realty, Hamilton; Ben McVean, Rodwells & Co, Warrnambool; Levi Cornish, Rodwells, Shepparton and; Lachlan McAllister, Elders Bendigo.

The competition is held in partnership with the Royal Agricultural Society of Victoria and the competitors auctioned cattle that had been assessed earlier as part of judging in the RASV Prime Stock Competition. The young auctioneers sold two lots of grass-fed and one lot of grain-fed cattle.

Toby said he has been selling sheep, lambs and cattle for about two years and has been based at Swan Hill since May this year. He comes from a solid farming and agency background. His father Mark Newnham auctioneers with Elders at Hay.

Toby said his priority was to maintain and develop a bigger and better business at Swan Hill, servicing all his clients’ needs and achieve the best possible results in marketing and selling their livestock.

ALPA chief executive officer Andy Madigan said ALPA is passionate about the training of young stock agents.

“These competitions are a way of investing in the future of our industry and promoting the integral role that stock agents play in the supply chain.”

The three competition judges — Mr Grant, SEJ Leongatha’s Bill Egan and Corcoran Parker agent Justin Keane — evaluated each competitor’s diction, values, voice and manner as well as their ability to establish their own presence and a unique style.

The evening before the competition, 100 of the competitor’s friends, family and industry members attended the annual ALPA Victorian Young Auctioneers Competition dinner. A charity auction was conducted by last year’s Victorian Young Auctioneers Competition winner Zeb Broadbent from McKean McGregor, Bendigo. Over the two days, more than $18,262 was raised to support the work of the Black Dog Institute, a world leader in the diagnosis, treatment and prevention of mood disorders such as depression.

Source: ALPA.