Champion Auctioneer Sees Missouri Cattle Prices Go Higher
It wasn’t just the world champion auctioneer at the mike—cattle were selling higher Friday at the Eastern Missouri Commission Company in Bowling Green, Mo. A smooth voice to ease cattle buyer’s hands higher doesn’t hurt though.
Kyle Shobe, Lewistown, Mont., 2010 World Champion Livestock Auctioneer visited the Missouri livestock market as part of his duties as national champion and Livestock Marketing Association (LMA) spokesperson.
Shobe attributed recent higher cattle prices to basic supply and demand, noting cattle in Missouri offer a wider variety of cattle from different operations than the cattle operations he typically works with in central Montana. (Read the Missouri Department of Agriculture Market News report from the April 15 sale.)
Part of Shobe’s responsibilities this year has been representing LMA to government leaders, livestock producers and consumers. Making visits to livestock markets across the country, such as the Eastern Missouri Commission Company in Bowling Green, allows him to promote the activities of auction markets across the country.
"We need to remember that livestock markets are important to local and state economies," Shobe says. "The millions of dollars traded in this barn have a major impact to the local community."
The 28-year-old champion says he learned the auction chant at a young age from his father. He sold his first calf at age 6. A few years later, he helped his dad sell bulls at a local production sale. He further honed his skill by watching and mimicking other top auctioneers. An University of Wyoming agricultural business graduate with a minor in music, Shobe attended and then taught at Western College of Auctioneering in Billings, Mont.Shobe will be host of the 2011 Livestock Marketing Association Convention where the 2011 World Livestock Auctioneer Champion will be named. After his term is complete, Shobe will continue to sell cattle once a week at Lewistown Livestock Auction; sell ag realty, machinery and production sales with his family’s auction business, United Country-Shobe Auction & Realty; and perform at various rodeo and entertainment venues. He also plans to complete a country music record with his band, the Walk’em Boys.
