Humans are competitive by nature.
kAm“(6 7:?5 2== 5:776C6?E[ 8@@7J H2JD E@ 4@>A6E6[ 7C@> 5C:33=:?8 2 =:EE=6 32== 2C@F?5 2 4@FCE E@ H9@ 42? 3=@H E96 3:886DE 3F33=6 @C 62E E96 >@DE 9@E 5@8D[” D2:5 y@? $49236?[ @H?6C @7 E96 sF?=2A {:G6DE@4< pF4E:@? D2=6 32C? :? H6DE6C? x@H2]k^Am
kAm“~FC H9@=6 3FD:?6DD :D 23@FE 4@>A6E:E:@?[” 96 D2:5]k^Am
kAmxE H:== 36 b` 2F4E:@?66CD 4@>A6E:?8 282:?DE 6249 @E96C 2E $49236?’D D2=6 32C? $2EFC52J[ yF?6 f 7@C E96 (@C=5 {:G6DE@4< pF4E:@?66C r92>A:@?D9:A]k^Am
A lot of cattle moves through the Oklahoma National Stockyards during the 2024 World Livestock Auctioneering Championships. Wade Leist of Boyne City, Mich., won last year.
Submitted photo by Grant Company LLC
kAm%96 2F4E:@?66C :D G:E2= E@ >2:?E2:?:?8 2 962=E9J[ 4@>A6E:E:G6 =:G6DE@4< >2C<6E:?8 :?5FDECJ[ 244@C5:?8 E@ $49236? 2?5 (:== tAA6C=J[ A2CE @H?6C H:E9 E96 $49236? 72>:=J 2E sF?=2A {:G6DE@4< pF4E:@?]k^Am
kAm“xE’D ECF6 AC:46 5:D4@G6CJ :? 4@>>6C46] (92E :D D@>6@?6 H:==:?8 E@ A2Jn %96 2F4E:@?66C :D 8@:?8 E@ 7:?5 E92E[” D2:5 tAA6C=J]k^Am
k9bmr92?8:?8 H@C=5 7@C 2F4E:@?66CDk^9bm
kAmq@E9 tAA6C=J 2?5 $49236? 2C6 A2DE H@C=5 492>A:@? 2F4E:@?66CD – :? a_aa 2?5 a__b[ C6DA64E:G6=J]k^Am
kAm%96 4@>A6E:E:@? 92D 96:89E6?65 :? E92E DA2? @7 E:>6 2?5 46CE2:?=J D:?46 E96 4@?E6DE’D 368:??:?8 :? `heb] *@F?8 2F4E:@?66CD E@52J E2<6 E@ *@F%F36 E@ DEF5J E96:C 72G@C:E6 3:5 42==6CD] (96? $49236? H2D DE2CE:?8 @FE[ 96 925 E@ EC2G6= E96 4@F?ECJ E@ =:DE6? E@ E96 E@A 2F4E:@?66CD]k^Am
Behind the rhythmic chants is a keen awareness of all that’s going on in the sale barn – from knowing a bit of background on the lot of cattle making their way into the ring, to keeping careful watch for subtle nods or flicks of a finger that indicate a buyer’s bid.
kAm“%96D6 <:5D 2C6 86EE:?8 D@ 8@@5 D@ 72DE[” $49236? D2:5] “%96 7FEFC6 @7 E96 =:G6DE@4< >2C<6E:?8 :?5FDECJ :D :? 8@@5 D92A6] %92E C62==J 6I4:E6D >6]”k^Am
kAm%96C6 2C6 5:776C6?46D @7 @A:?:@? E9C@F89@FE E96 :?5FDECJ @? H92E >2<6D 2 8@@5 2F4E:@?66C[ tAA6C=J D2:5] pE E96 492>A:@?D9:A[ 2 A2?6= @7 7:G6 ;F586D H:== D4@C6 E96 4@>A6E:E@CD 2D E96J 6249 D6== 6:89E 5C27ED @7 42EE=6 :? 2 =:G6 2F4E:@? 2E sF?=2A] %96J BF2=:7:65 7@C E96 H@C=5 492>A:@?D9:A 3J A=24:?8 :? E96 E@A `_ 2E E9C66 C68:@?2= 4@>A6E:E:@?D =2DE 72== 2?5 H:?E6C]k^Am
kAmr=2C:EJ @7 E96 492?E :D @?6 @7 E96 >@DE :>A@CE2?E 2EEC:3FE6D ;F586D =@@< 7@C[ tAA6C=J D2:5]k^Am
kAm“x7 ?@3@5J <?@HD H92E E96 AC:46 :D[ ?@ @?6 H:== 3:5[” 96 D2:5]k^Am
kAm~E96C BF2=:E:6D :?4=F56 AC@76DD:@?2=:D> 2?5 A@:D6[ DA665 @7 D2=6[ 23:=:EJ E@ 42E49 2 3:5[ 2?5 <?@H=6586 @7 E96 AC@5F4E] tAA6C=J =@@<D 7@C A6CD@?2=:EJ[ 6DA64:2==J]k^Am
kAm“%96D6 D2=6D 8@ =@?8] tG6CJ3@5J H2?ED 2? 2F4E:@?66C E92E <66AD A6@A=6’D 2EE6?E:@? 2?5 <66AD E96 2E>@DA96C6 6=64EC:4[” 96 D2:5]k^Am
kAmx? 255:E:@? E@ E96 D2=6[ 4@>A6E:E@CD 2C6 ;F5865 @? E96:C =:G6DE@4< >2C<6E:?8 <?@H=6586 2?5 E96:C 23:=:EJ E@ 36 2 DA@<6DA6CD@? 7@C :?5FDECJ] %96 :?E6CG:6H A@CE:@? @7 E96 4@>A6E:E:@? E2<6D A=246 E96 52J 367@C6 E96 =:G6 2F4E:@?[ H:E9 2 5:776C6?E A2?6= @7 ;F586D[ 2?5 244@F?ED 7@C adT @7 2 4@>A6E:E@C’D D4@C6]k^Am
kAmxE’D 2 C6=2E:G6=J ?6H 255:E:@? E@ E96 H@C=5 492>A:@?D9:A] xE 4@>6D H:E9 E96 F?56CDE2?5:?8 E92E E96 H:??:?8 2F4E:@?66C H:== E2<6 E@ E96 C@25 7@C E96 ?6IE J62C E@ G:D:E D2=6 32C?D 2?5 AC@>@E6 E96 :?5FDECJ :? 2 ECF4< 3=2K@?65 H:E9 E96 H@C=5 492>A:@? =@8@] %96 H:??6C 2=D@ 86ED Se[___ :? 42D9[ 2D H6== 2D 2 4FDE@> 36=E 3F4<=6[ 4@H3@J 92E[ C:?8[ >@?6J 4=:A 2?5 82G6=]k^Am
On the auction block at Dunlap Livestock Auction.
Submitted photo
kAm%C2G6=:?8 E96 4@F?ECJ E@ C6AC6D6?E E96 :?5FDECJ 2?5 >66E 9:D 96C@6D H2D 2 AC:G:=686[ D2:5 tAA6C=J @7 9:D C6:8? 2D 492>A:@?] w6 A:4<65 FA D@>6 AC24E:42= <?@H=6586[ DF49 2D H92E AC@5F46CD :? 5:776C6?E 2C62D @7 E96 4@F?ECJ =@@< 7@C :? E96:C 42EE=6] %92E 96=A65 9:> F?56CDE2?5 H96C6 46CE2:? 42EE=6 E96J EC256 H:== AC@DA6C]k^Am
kAmtAA6C=J 2=D@ E:4<65 @77 D@>6 @7 9:D 3F4<6E =:DE 5C62>D 5FC:?8 9:D E6?FC6] w6 H@C<65 2=@?8D:56 9:D >6?E@CD 2E E96 @?=:?6\7@4FD65 $FA6C:@C {:G6DE@4< pF4E:@?[ 3@F?465 3FD:?6DD :562D @77 @7 {6I |2556? :? %@CC:?8E@?[ (J@>:?8[ 2?5 C@56 H:E9 y@6 v@88:?D :? q:==:?8D[ |@?E2?2[ H9:=6 E2=<:?8 :?5FDECJ :DDF6D]k^Am
kAm“xE H2D EC6>6?5@FD[ 6DA64:2==J H96? @?6 @7 J@FC 96C@6D :D D:EE:?8 E96C6 E2=<:?8 E@ J@F[” tAA6C=J D2:5]k^Am
k9bmpF4E:@? 4=62?D FA 7@C 4@>A2?Jk^9bm
kAm%96 =:G6 D2=6 A@CE:@? @7 E96 4@>A6E:E:@? H:== 36 2 52J\=@?8 6G6?E 2E sF?=2A {:G6DE@4< pF4E:@?] xE 86ED F?56CH2J 2E g 2]>] H:E9 E96 AC6=:>:?2CJ C@F?5D] %96 E@A `_ :?5:G:5F2=D 8@ @? E@ D6== `_ 5C27ED @7 42EE=6 6249 :? E96 7:?2=D]k^Am
kAm$62ED :? E96 2F4E:@? 32C? 2C6 6IA64E65 E@ 36 A24<65 H:E9 DA64E2E@CD[ 3FJ6CD 2?5 E96 DFAA@CE6CD 6249 2F4E:@?66C H:== 3C:?8 7C@> 9@>6] xE :D 2 C68F=2C 2F4E:@? H:E9 42EE=6 @? @776C[ 27E6C 2==] ~G6C7=@H 4C@H5D 42? 42E49 E96 24E:@? DEC62>65 =:G6 E@ 2 %' :? 2 =2C86 E6?E @FED:56 E96 2F4E:@? 32C?] u@@5 G6?5@CD H:== 36 @? D:E6]k^Am
Jon Schaben sorts cattle at Dunlap Livestock Auction. Schaben was the world champion auctioneer in 2003, and his barn in Dunlap, Iowa, will host the competition this year.
MICHELLE GARSIDE STUDIO MG
kAm“x 9@A6 :E 92D 2 3:8 A2CEJ 766= E@ :E[” $49236? D2:5] “xE’D 2 46=63C2E:@? @7 @FC :?5FDECJ]”k^Am
kAm%96 4@>A6E:E:@? 5@F3=6D 2D 2 46=63C2E:@? @7 sF?=2A {:G6DE@4< pF4E:@?[ H9:49 :D >2C<:?8 fd J62CD :? E96 $49236? 72>:=J] y@? $49236?’D A2C6?ED[ y:> 2?5 #FE9 $49236?[ >@CE82865 2 32C E96J @H?65 E@ AFC492D6 E96 2F4E:@? 32C? :? pF8FDE `hd_]k^Am
kAm“x? fd J62CD @7 5@:?8 3FD:?6DD[ H6 92G6 A6@A=6 H9@ 92G6 366? 4FDE@>6CD[ 3FE >@C6 :>A@CE2?E=J 92G6 366? 7C:6?5D :? E96 ;@FC?6J[” y@? $49236? D2:5] “(6’C6 =F4<J E@ 36 23=6 E@ H@C< 7@C E96 92C5\H@C<:?8 28C:3FD:?6DD A6@A=6 @7 @FC 4@>>F?:EJ]”k^Am
kAmw6 2?5 9:D 3C@E96CD y2J 2?5 y:> $49236? yC] E@@< @G6C E96 3FD:?6DD :? E96 `hh_D] tAA6C=J 3682? :? a_`b 2?5 3642>6 A2CE @H?6C H96? y2J $49236? C6E:C65 :? a_aa]k^Am
Current owners of Dunlap Livestock Auction are Jim Schaben Jr., Jon Schaben and Will Epperly.
Submitted photo
kAm%96 $49236?D 3F:=E E96 32C? H96C6 E96 2F4E:@? @A6C2E6D E@52J :? `hfc] |2?J @7 E9@D6 @C:8:?2= 7:IEFC6D 8@E 2? FA8C256 2?5 2 C6>@56= 7@C E96 H@C=5 492>A:@?D9:A]k^Am
kAm“xE’D <:?5 @7 =:<6 92G:?8 4@>A2?J @G6C] *@F’G6 8@E E@ C62==J 4=62? J@FC 9@FD6 H6==[” y@? $49236? D2:5]k^Am
kAmq:5 42==:?8 D9@F=5 HC2A FA 2C@F?5 c A]>] :? E:>6 E@ A24< FA 2?5 9625 E@ ~>292 7@C 2? 6G6?:?8 32?BF6E H96C6 E96 H:??6C H:== 36 2??@F?465]k^Am
k9bmr@?G6?E:@? 5@G6E2:=D H:E9 4@>A6E:E:@?k^9bm
kAm%96 4@>A6E:E:@? E2<6D A=246 :? 4@?;F?4E:@? H:E9 E96 2??F2= 4@?G6?E:@? @7 E96 {:G6DE@4< |2C<6E:?8 pDD@4:2E:@? W{|pX[ H9:49 H:== 92G6 E9C66 52JD @7 >66E:?8D[ E@FCD 2?5 65F42E:@?2= D6DD:@?D @? 4FCC6?E :?5FDECJ :DDF6D :? ~>292 yF?6 c\e]k^Am
kAmw:89 42EE=6 AC:46D 92G6 E96 :?5FDECJ 23FKK] !C:4:?8 92D 492?865 >2C<6E A2EE6C?D 2?5 25;FDE65 E96 E:>6D E92E AC@5F46CD D6== 42=G6D[ D2:5 {|p !C6D:56?E |:<6 '2?|22?6?[ 2? ~D<2=@@D2[ x@H2 ?2E:G6[ H9@’D ?@H 2 |:DD@FC: 2F4E:@? 32C? @H?6C]k^Am
Mike VanMaanen is an Oskaloosa, Iowa native, who’s now a Missouri auction barn owner. He’ll begin his second year as president of the Livestock Marketing Association when the group meets for its annual convention in Omaha June 4-6.
Submitted photo
kAmxE’D ?@E ;FDE 42EE=6 2F4E:@?D E96 {|p C6AC6D6?ED] %96 D966A 2?5 8@2E 3FD:?6DD :D E9C:G:?8[ 96 D2:5[ 2?5 E9@D6 >62E AC@5F4ED 2C6 42E49:?8 @? H:E9 E96 p>6C:42? 4@?DF>6C]k^Am
kAm%96 {|p :D ?@E 2 AC@5F46C @C82?:K2E:@?[ 3FE E96 8C@FA 25G@42E6D 7@C C:D< AC@E64E:@? 2?5 E2I :?46?E:G6D E92E 96=A 42EE=6 AC@5F46CD DE2J :? 3FD:?6DD 2?5 <66A >2C<6ED 962=E9J[ '2?|22?6? D2:5]k^Am
kAm~E96C :DDF6D @? E96 {|p C252C :?4=F56 492?8:?8 46?EFCJ\@=5 =2HD E92E AC6G6?E D2=6 32C? @H?6CD 7C@> :?G6DE:?8 :? D>2== A24<:?8 724:=:E:6D 2?5 FA52E:?8 E96 AC@>AE A2J>6?E =2H E@ 2==@H 7@C 6=64EC@?:4 A2J>6?ED]k^Am
kAm“(6 2C6 2 962G:=J C68F=2E65 :?5FDECJ[” '2?|2??6? D2:5]k^Am
k2D:56 4=2DDlQE?4>D\:?=:?6\C6=4@?E6?E E?4>D\:?=:?6\C6=4@?E6?E\724E E?4>D\:?=:?6\2=:8?>6?E\=67E E?4>D\:?=:?6\H:5E9\92=7Qmk9cm!2DE (@C=5 {:G6DE@4< pF4E:@?66C r92>A:@?D9:ADk^9cmkF=mk=:m%96 7:CDE (@C=5 {:G6DE@4< pF4E:@?66C r92>A:@?D9:A E@@< A=246 :? s6?G6C :? yF?6 `heb]k^=:mk=:msF?=2A {:G6DE@4< pF4E:@? 9@DE65 492>A:@?D9:AD :? a__a 2?5 92D 925 EH@ 492>A:@? 2F4E:@?66CDi (:== tAA6C=J :? a_aa 2?5 y@? $49236? :? a__bk^=:mk=:m$@FE9 s2<@E2 92D 9@DE65 E96 492>A:@?D9:AD E9C66 E:>6D 2?5 92D 925 EH@ H:??6CD] x? a__g $:@FI u2==D #68:@?2= {:G6DE@4< :? (@CE9:?8 9@DE65 E96 6G6?E] xE H2D 2E u@CE !:6CC6 {:G6DE@4< pF4E:@? :? `hhf 2?5 q2=6D r@?E:?6?E2= r@>>:DD:@? :? wFC@? :? `hgc] %:E=6 9@=56CD 7C@> $@FE9 s2<@E2 :?4=F56 y:> $EC2:? @7 |2CE:?[ H9@ H@? :? `hfb[ 2?5 #@36CE $49?6== @7 {6>>@?[ H9@ H@? :? `heg]k^=:mk=:m|:??6D@E2 9@DE65 a__h :? u6C8FD u2==D 2?5 `hg` :? $E] !2F= 2?5 92D 925 @?6 H:??:?8 2F4E:@?66Ci !2F= r] q69C @7 $E] !2F= :? `hgh]k^=:mk=:m}63C2D<2 92D 9@DE65 E96 492>A:@?D9:A EH:46 2?5 92D 925 E96 >@DE H:??6CD @7 2?J DE2E6[ 2E ?:?6[ :?4=F5:?8 2 DH66A @7 492>A:@?D 36EH66? `hfh E@ `hg`] }63C2D<2 H:??6CD H6C6 |2EE {@H6CJ @7 qFCH6== :? a__g[ y@6 uC2K:6C @7 |4r@@< :? `hhf[ s@F8 y2886CD @7 #FD9G:==6 :? `hg`[ s62? $49@H @7 !2IE@? :? `hg_[ %6CCJ t=D@? @7 rFCE:D :? `hfh[ #@?2=5 (@@5H2C5 @7 qC@<6? q@H :? `hf`[ 2?5 v=6? w6=36C8 @7 }@CE9 !=2EE6 :? `hed]k^=:mk=:mx@H2 :D 4=@D6 369:?5 H:E9 D6G6? H:??6CD[ :?4=F5:?8 2 E9C66\A62E @7 492>A:@?D :? E96 62C=J `hh_D] x@H2 92D 9@DE65 E96 4@>A6E:E:@? E9C66 E:>6D]k^=:mk^F=mk^2D:56m
k9bmu2G@C:E6D :?4=F56 r2?25:2?D[ J@F?8 |@?E2?2\32D65 4@>A6E:E@Ck^9bm
kAm%96 2F4E:@?66C:?8 492>A:@?D9:A 32=2?46D E96 3FD:?6DD D:56 @7 E96 4@?G6?E:@? H:E9 2 3:E @7 7F? 2?5 =6G:EJ] q69:?5 E96 D46?6D[ E96C6 2C6 D@>6 ?6CG6D[ 3FE 2 =@E @7 42>2C256C:6] r@>A6E:E@CD 364@>6 =:76\=@?8 7C:6?5D]k^Am
kAm%96C6 2C6 2 76H 72G@C:E6D E9:D J62C[ 6DA64:2==J 2>@?8 2F4E:@?66CD 7C@> r2?252] s62? t586 @7 #:>36J[ p=36CE2 H@? E96 BF2=:7J:?8 6G6?E :? r2=:7@C?:2] qC6??:? y24< @7 ':C56?[ |2?:E@32 H@? E96 BF2=:7:6C :? }6H |6I:4@] q2CC6EE $:>@? @7 #@D2=:2[ z2?D2D H2D E96 492>A:@? 2E E96 =2DE BF2=:7:6C :? |:DD@FC:]k^Am
kAm“%96 r2?25:2?D H:== >2<6 E96>D6=G6D <?@H?[” $49236? D2:5]k^Am
kAmy246 %9@>AD@? :D 2?@E96C E@ H2E49] w6 H2D 2 C@@<:6 2E =2DE J62C’D H@C=5 492>A:@?D9:A[ E96? H6?E @? E@ H:? E96 x?E6C?2E:@?2= {:G6DE@4< pF4E:@?66C r92>A:@?D9:A 2E E96 r2=82CJ $E2>A656 =2DE yF=J] w6 ;FDE >:89E 7@==@H :? E96 7@@EDE6AD @7 9:D 525[ %J %9@>AD@?[ E96 a__h H@C=5 492>A:@?]k^Am
kAmtAA6C=J D2:5 2 76H @E96CD 2C6 “52C< 9@CD6D” 4@>:?8 :?E@ E96 492>A:@?D9:Ai p?5J q2F>6:DE6C @7 %6I2D[ tE92? $49F6EE6 @7 z2?D2D 2?5 %C@J #@3:?6EE @7 %6I2D] qFE :E’D 2?J3@5J’D 492?46 :7 :E’D E96:C 52J[ 96 D2:5]k^Am
kAm“u@C J@F E@ H:? E9:D[ E96 DE2CE 92G6 E@ 2=:8?[” tAA6C=J D2:5] “%96 36DE E9:?8 J@F 42? 5@ :D C6=2I 2?5 92G6 7F?]”k^Am
Raised in small town South Dakota, Janelle is enjoying her time as editor of Tri-State Neighbor and Midwest Messenger while raising kids, chickens and no till vegetables in central Sioux Falls. Reach her at janelle.atyeo@lee.net .
Be the first to know
Get local news delivered to your inbox!
