This year’s Queensland Young Auctioneers Competition attracted 11 outstanding young auctioneers including two representatives from Roma.
This year the auctioneers performed and opened the cattle sales of the 2024 Ekka on 7 August.
Charlie Gleeson of Watkins & Company and Jesse McCutcheon of Ray White Rural were two of the auctioneers on the day.
ALPA chief executive Peter Baldwin said the competiion aims to illuminate the talents of young professionals from rural Queensland through a memorable display of the purest form of livestock auctioneering.
The competition is limited to auctioneers 25 years and younger and is judged on subject matter expertise, knowledge of breed and confirmation, ability to engender robust buyer competition, purvey a polished rural sophisticated delivery and above all, be recognised by the judges for sheer excellence.
Each auctioneer answered the call, showing individual personality, credibility, flair and tenacity in expatiating the virtues of their lots before a seasoned ring of commercial prime cattle buyers.
Three well-credentialed livestock selling judges scored each competitor who were evaluated on their presentation, delivery, diction, voice, manner, knowledge of and their unique command and style in keeping with ALPA’s well documented judging criteria.
The 11 finalists were selected from 36 attendees at ALPA’s Auctioneers School held earlier this year.
Stock and station agent for Ray White in Roma, Jesse McCutcheon said this year’s competition was very strong with a lot of very well presented auctioneers.
“The cattle sold extremely well and I was very impressed with the prices I saw on the day considering the current state of the market,“ he said.
“I’ve never sold in a situation like that where cattle sold for big prices so it was an eye opener to see that.
“Overall it was a well organised competition and a great day.“
Mr McCutcheon entered the industry with Ray White 18 months ago and simultaneously got into auctioneering at the same time.
“I got interested in auctioneering from listening in sale yards and had mates from school who were doing it.
“My biggest inspiration is the late Rod Turner who used to work for Nutrien in Roma.
“He could always get the market going and get the prices up there and I used to love listening to him.
Mr McCutcheon sold three steers who all had ribbons who he sold for more than he expected.
“From the feedback I received, I sold very well for how long I’ve been in the industry but most importantly I enjoyed it and learnt a lot from it,” he said.
“I will definitely try again next year and give it a go.“
Livestock sales agent with Watkins and Company, Charlie Gleeson has been in the industry for at least seven years.
“I did my first clearance sale with my old man when I was 12 years old so my passion for it sort of grew from there.
“Auctioneering is something that I enjoy and I love the industry.
He sold three led steers on the day from numerous studs across the country.
“Seeing the steers and being able to sell them ourselves is an opportunity you can’t miss,” Mr Gleeson said.
“The most important thing about auctioneering is achieving the best results for the clients and giving them a good day out because without them I wouldn’t have a job.“
Emerald stock agent Matthew Pearce was crowned as the 2024 Australian Livestock and Property Brokers Queensland Young Auctioneers Competition winner with runner up Dustyn Fitzgerald from Queensland Rural, Charters Towers.
The 2024 ALPA Queensland Young Auctioneers Competition finalists:
• Jack Dougherty, Elders Rural Services, Dalby.
• Dustyn Fitzgerald, Queensland Rural, Charters Towers.
• Sterling George, GDL Rural, Blackall.
• Charlie Gleeson, Watkins & Company, Roma.
• Jack Hannah, GDL Rural, Miles.
• Patrick Luck, Kennedy Livestock & Property, Clermont.
• Jesse McCutcheon, Ray White Rural – Roma.
• Sam Moy, Nutrien Ag Solutions, Rockhampton.
• Matthew Pearce, GDL Rural, Emerald.
• Justin Rohde, Nutrien Ag Solutions, Emerald.
• Patrick Sullivan, Sullivan Livestock & Rural Services, Gympie.
