UPDATE:
On Jan. 30, 18 auctioneers participated in the first auctioneering competition held by an FFA Chapter in California. There were over 30 buyers and 18 auctioneers at the end of the night.
Each auctioneer was judged by the local auctioneers, Scott Silveira, Colton Pricolo, Garrett Jones, and Michael Imrogono. There were contestants from as far south as Bakersfield, and as far north as Stockton, with a total of eight schools.
Agriculture teacher Mr. Rod Hill said, “I would like to take this time to congratulate the following students for competing in this event, Luke Brazil, Ariana Flores, Max Menefee, Damian Morales, and Liam Dietrich.”
Each student auctioned off two items each and were graded using a rubric by the four judges. The auction finished with three students from Los Banos High in the top 10, including Max Menefee (9) taking 1st place. Los Banos Junior high also had a young lady place 7th overall.
To date there had only been 4 FFA connected events, such as auctions and auction camps, before this event hosted at the Los Banos Fairgrounds Friday night. The competition made a total of $1000 to be used in next year’s competition to make it bigger with better awards to the students that compete.
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FFA students from around the region will be able to show their newly learned talent of running an auction at a first of its kind competition on Jan. 30. Located at the Germino building at the Los Banos Fairgrounds, anyone is welcome to attend the auction, bid on items, or donate to the event.
The competition will be hosted by agriculture teacher Mr. Rod Hill and Mr. Adam Jacobo of the Los Banos Junior High FFA. They are working with the help of Mr. McGuire of Orestimba High, who has had some students take part in a similar event back in October.
Bidders will begin registering at 3:15 p.m., and the first item will be auctioned at 4 p.m. The students will be auctioning off their items to buyers while three judges evaluate them based on a rubric.
Instead of being judged on how much they garner for their items, students will be judged against a rubric with five standards, each worth 10 points. These standards are evaluated on their introduction, voice and delivery, chant, presentation, and total effective auctioneering.
After competing, all three judges’ scores will be totaled to reveal each student’s final score. Auctioneers Scott Silveira and Colton Pricolo will be part of the judging team at the event.
The event is open to all FFA students across the state. There is a limit of 16 students outside of Jacobo’s, Hill’s and McGuire’s students from Orestimba. It is open to students of any age as long as they are part of an FFA program.
Auctioneering competitors will be charged $12 and are required to bring two items with a value of $10 each. The registration fee and funds from the auction will pay for a meal for attendees.
Hill said, “We are asking for a $5 donation from buyers to help support the program. That would be waved if they bid and won an item. Anyone is welcome to come watch, bid or donate.”
The auctioneering program is a new program that Justin Kennedy from Oklahoma School of Auctioneering introduced last year to agriculture teachers from across the state. It was introduced on a small scale, but interest has increased in students this year. The event this year will be the first in California and FFA students are able to participate by registering on the day of.
The hosts hope to make this an annual event, then work to help put on a second one next year in Newman. There will be another event held during the World Ag. Expo in Tulare and possibly at the Youth Ag. Expo in Tulare in August, which remains unscheduled.
The top five winners will receive a wooden plaque created by Jacobo’s and Hill’s students. Winners from this event may have the opportunity to compete at the World Ag. Expo in Tulare this February.
Hill said, “We are inviting all of you to take part in the event in any manner you see fit, whether that be there to support local students, or actually take part and bid or win an auction item.”
All proceeds earned from the event will be used to pay for the awards, future student auctions and the simple meal planned afterward, open to all attendees and competitors.
