78 Prairie Ag Marketplace Better Farming | July/August 2024 ALLAN MUNROE Killarney Auction Mart ANDREW REEDLEDLER Innesfail Auction Mart AUSTIN TAYLOR Taylor Auctions MB BILL HAALSTRA Ontario Livestock Exchange BLAINE HUSTON Gladstone Auction Mart The 2024 Livestock Markets Association of Canada’s 43rd convention, along with the 25th Canadian Livestock Auctioneering Championship were held in Waterloo, Ontario in May. The event was a huge success, attracting over 250 conventioneers and 35 auctioneers from all across Canada. The Ontario Livestock Auction Markets Association (OLAMA) was the host organization, and the Ontario Livestock Exchange (OLEX) was the host market. During the auctioneering competition, six judges from across Canada evaluated the auctioneers on their bid calling skills, chant, voice control, use of the mic, command of the sale and professionalism. Three additional judges, in personal interviews, rated the auctioneers on their knowledge of the cattle markets, LMAC and industry knowledge, along with their opinions on dispute resolution and auction ethics. The top ten auctioneers were brought back to sell cattle, and live auction judges determined the winners. At the LMAC annual business meeting, members elected Rick Wright from Manitoba and Danny Skeels from Alberta to director-at -large positions on the LMAC Board. LMAC launched a new “employee safety training manual and livestock handling” handbook for its members to use as reference material. Members also approved board-recommended changes to the LMAC by-laws and constitution. Updates on the proposed traceability regulations were presented. Viewtrak Technologies and New Line ASP both gave presentations on software programs for auctions and cattle buyers. Ken Perlich, the LMAC representative on CCIA, gave a brief update on changes at CCIA. Ryan Copithorne from Cows in Control was the keynote speaker, and he gave a very interesting presentation on livestock marketing options, risk management and market trends. Conventioneers also took part in feedlot and Mennonite area tours, the Waterloo Farmer’s Market, Blue Jays baseball and a host of other events included in the convention. The auction competition drew more than 2000 cattle and a full house to watch at OLEX. When the hammer fell on the last draft, Lars DeLeeuw a 19-year-old rookie auctioneer from Ontario was crowned as the overall Canadian Champion. DeLeeuw works at the Ontario Livestock Exchange in Waterloo. He is self-taught and learned the trade from watching and listening to Ralph Wade on YouTube. This was his first time to LMAC, although he did compete in the international competition at the Calgary Stampede last summer. He will be back in Calgary this year representing LMAC as the Canadian Champion. DeLeeuw won the use of an EBY stock trailer for a year from EBY, K&G Trailer Sales and T-Down Trailer Sales (Ross Annett, Brooks). He also won the Canadian Hereford Association Champion Buckle, the champion’s custom ring from Foothills Auctioneers Inc. in Stavely, a limited edition Ken Frederickson bronze, donated by the Canadian Angus Association and $1,200 cash from LMAC. Lars was also named the LMAC Rookie of the Year and was awarded the Rookie Buckle from Boehringer-Ingelheim. Reserve Champion, Tyler Rosehill was awarded the Canadian Limousin Association Buckle. Rosehill is a partner in the Olds Auction Mart in Olds, Alberta. Ty has been LMAC reserve champion the past two years. The Canadian Shorthorn Association sponsored the first runner up buckle. This year’s winner was Rob Bergevin from the Foothills Auctioneers Inc. in Stavely, Alberta. Bergevin manages the Stavely market and sells the Stampede tarp sale every year. Second runner up for 2024 comes from Brussels Livestock Market in Ontario. Dave Jacob from Mitchell, Ontario was presented with the Canadian Charolais Association Buckle. Jacob operates a successful auction business out of Mitchell and sells part-time at Brussels. Rounding out the top five was another rookie. Ty Cutler, from Moosomin Saskatchewan, who started selling cattle two years ago, won the Canadian Simmental Association Buckle for third runner up. Cutler gets mic time at Whitewood Livestock Sales and also works at Prairie Livestock in Moosomin. Other top ten finalists were Rhett Parks, Whitewood Livestock; Frederick Bodnarus, Northern Livestock Sales, Prince Albert, SK; Brad Kehler, Grunthal Auction Mart; John Baier, Heartland Livestock, Swift Current, SK; and Tyler Slawinski, Ashern Auction Mart and Gladstone Auction Mart in Manitoba. The top ten finalists received hatpins from OLAMA. The most improved auctioneer for 2024 went to Brad Kehler from Steinbach, Manitoba. Brad manages and sells at Grunthal Auction Mart. He received a custom buckle from Jack Auction Group from Virden, Manitoba. Thorsby Stockyards Inc. in Alberta sponsors the High Point Interview Score buckle. Allan Munroe from the Killarney Auction Mart won the buckle for the second year in a row. The interview judges gave Munroe high praise on his knowledge and passion for the marketing industry. The Most Congenial Auctioneer is determined by a vote from the auctioneers in the competition. This coveted award was won by Bill Haalstra from the Ontario Livestock Exchange. This veteran auctioneer was selected by his peers to win the Whitewood Livestock Sales buckle. The Canadian Angus Association Stockyard of the Year Award was awarded to the Keady Auction Mart in Keady, Ontario. The Kuhl family operates the Keady Livestock Auction. The six major breed associations that sponsor the championship buckles also presented the host market with a print for hosting the event. The late Jack McKennitt from Morden, Manitoba was inducted into the LMAC Hall of Fame. LMAC Memorial Honour Roll inductees were Doug Jackson, cattle buyer, Winnipeg, Manitoba, Fred Jacklin, market operator/buyer from Elmwood, Ontario and Jim Wideman, LMAC administrator, Waterloo, Ontario. The 2025 LMAC Convention and Canadian Livestock Auctioneering Championship will be held in Brandon, Manitoba, May 8 to 12. The auctioneering competition will be held at Heartland Livestock Services in Virden. KEVIN MCCARTER Brussels Livestock ON KODY LAKEVOLD Provost Livestock Exchange AB KYLE HOWARTH Killarney Auction Mart MB LARS DELEEUW Ontario Livestock Exchange PAUL MORE Ste. Rose Auction Mart MB RHETT PARKS Whitewood Livestock SK RICHARD BRAMLEY HLS - Virden MB RYAN KUEFPER Ontario Livestock Exchange - Waterloo ON SCOTT CAMPBELL Fraser Auctions Brandon MB TY CUTLER Whitewood Livestock Sales SK TYLER CRONKHITE CowTown Livestock Exchange - Maple Creek SK
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