Fair auctioneers keep the rhythm

Sept. 4, 2005

JOEL DAVIDSON\Frontiersman reporter

PALMER - Auctioneers call it chanting, the endless string of words that rolls off their tireless tongues.

On Saturday, with his big white cowboy hat firmly in place, veteran auctioneer Brad Webb whipped approximately 400 bidders into a frenzy at the Alaska State Fair.

Mat-Su farmers, ranchers and local business representatives joined a host of other Alaska State Fair goers during the 4-H Jr. Livestock Auction.

Fellow auctioneer Mike DeWan helped Webb coax the bidders along. All the money went to a good cause, right back to 4-H kids and the organization.

"Between he and I, I don't think there has been one other person selling here in the last 30 years," Webb said of the fair's livestock auctions. "There's a lot of auctioneers that come and go but we're the only two successful ones."

Each year, Webb and DeWan volunteered their services for 4-H. On Saturday, they worked to garner as much money as possible for each animal.

DeWan said the key to a successful auction is reading the crowd, finding the drama and keeping the momentum. After a quarter century behind the auctioneer's mike, DeWan said he still gets a little nervous.

"You still get butterflies but you learn your crowds," he said just before Saturday's auction began. "You learn where to go and who to look for."

Dressed in black slacks and white collared shirts, more than 60 kids marched their cows, swine, lambs, turkeys, rabbits and goats before the cheering bidders.

For many kids, it was one of the final days to see their animals. After Monday, most of the animals head to local butcher shops. From there, much of the meat will be donated to charities and nonprofit organizations.

Morgan Tyler, an 18-year-old from Palmer, raised a sheep for her 10th and final 4-H auction. Like many of her peers, the money she earned Saturday went straight toward the college fund.

Even after a decade of 4-H, Tyler said saying good-bye to the animals is often bittersweet.

"You can get really attached to them," she said, before adding that the ornery ones are easier to let go. "These are pretty good, but they do have their moments."

Contact Joel Davidson at 352-2266, or joel.davidson@frontiersman.com.