Going once... going twice....going Saturday?

Anyone who loves to hear the chant of a good auctioneer will love to attend the Oregon Auctioneer Championship being held at the Oregon State Fair on Saturday night in Salem.

The event takes place from 5 to 7:30 p.m. in the 4-H/FFA Judging Tent as the competitors hold a live public auction and are judged on several different criteria.

Being a good auctioneer involves a lot of things. It’s not just what they say but how they say it, what are their showmanship skills like, how successful are they interacting with the crowd and influencing them to buy.

And for anyone who hires these auctioneers, such as at farm auctions, one of the most important things is how high can they raise the bids so the bottom line will be successful.

For people who attend this event each year, they’ll hear some familiar voices competing. Often it’s the same group of auctioneers, with a few exceptions, and it’s enjoyable to witness their recognizable styles but also to see what they change from year to year.

Holding these types of competitions are great because the auctioneers do learn from each other and often support each other. They will sometimes bid on each other’s items. Sometimes it’s because they really want to go home with a good deal, but sometimes it’s to help out their competitors.

Stay tuned to Capital Press (and this blog space) to find out who the winners are this year.


Agriculture