15 things people do not tell you about becoming a livestock auctioneer

That’s Farming’s light-hearted take on what people do not tell you about becoming a livestock auctioneer.

1. Plans revolve around mart sales;
2. You will have a tendency to go to the mart, even days that you are not working;
3. Despite selling hundreds of cattle and/or sheep daily, you like having your own stock;
4. Forget about planning day trips during spring when calf sales begin or the autumn time when marts’ throughputs peak;
5. If you are not taking to someone about the mart or in it yourself, you will be tuning in online;
6. If you are not at the mart in-person or watching it online, you will be talking to someone about it;
7. You do not have a 9 am-5 pm job – you could be home at 2 am or 2 pm!
8. You must have your ‘white’ coats cleaned, washed and ironed for sales, along with the rest of your attire – Chelsea boots and a quilted jacket are a given;
9. You cannot go to the local shop or restaurant without meeting a mart-goer;
10. You are often roped into auctioneering duties at charity auctions;
11. You clock up more mileage than some taxi drivers and, while doing so, take in some of the most scenic places in the country;
12. You are known as the ‘auctioneer that does be in X mart and/or sells X’ in the locality;
13. You can recall the price, weight, seller and buyer of every (or nearly every lot in the yard on sale day;
14. Visiting livestock marts overseas is on your bucket list;
15. You are known for having a distinctive auctioneering chant and certain filler words.

Previous article on That’s Farming on 15 things people do not tell you about becoming a farm vet