‘Getting in some tongue twisters’: rookie auctioneer competes for championship title

For rookie auctioneer Nicole Boslovitch, her first competition is a nerve-racking, but exciting experience.

“A lot of practice, getting in some tongue twisters, practice your numbers,” she said.

The 21-year-old Winnipeg native is only the second woman to ever compete at the International Livestock Auctioneer Championship in Stavely.

“I think it’s a little bit tough to break into, but just being a young auctioneer is tough to break into the industry as well,” Boslovitch said.

She’s competing against 22 other auctioneers, all with a need for speed and wanting to get the biggest bang for their buck.

“We try to go fast, to make an electric atmosphere to get people to bid more,” 2015 International Livestock Auctioneer Champ Marcus Kent said.

During the live sales, auctioneers are judged on professionalism, voice clarity, mannerisms and how they conduct the sale. Board members say it’s good for participants to just look at it as another gig.

“This is just a day of doing business, but the only difference is, today you are getting scored for what you are doing,” board member Dan Skeels said.

Competition aside, this sale has a direct impact on the livestock industry.

“This is true price discovery, this is how we establish what a true market value is,” Skeels said.

The 10 finalists from here move on to the second half of the competition at the Calgary Stampede. The champion wins $5,000.

For Boslovitch, she hopes it’s just one day of business, that leads to long career of high bids.