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Iowa Farm and Ranch
World Champion Auctioneer sells cattle at Dunlap Livestock Kyle Shobe helps Schabens celebrate 60th anniversary by Gordon Wolf In only his second year of competing in the Livestock Marketing Association’s (LMA) World Livestock Auctioneer contest, Kyle Shobe of Lewistown, Montana, was named champion. But for Shobe, entering the contest was not so much about winning the title as it was about education. “The approach that I took is that the contests would make me a better auctioneer,” he stated. Shobe won the contest on June 19 at the Oklahoma National Stockyards in Oklahoma City. Now he will be traveling throughout the United States promoting the LMA, the auction method of marketing livestock and performing as guest auctioneer at livestock auctions. Shobe’s first guest appearance was on Friday, August 6, at the Dunlap Livestock Auction in Dunlap where he helped the Schaben family celebrate 60 years of owning and operating the livestock auction. James Schaben Sr. and wife Ruth bought the Dunlap market and began operating it in 1950. He has retired and the market is now operated and managed by the Schaben brothers – Jon, Jim Jr. and Jay. A third generation of the Schaben family is also involved in the business. Jon is the 2003 LMA World Champion Livestock Auctioneer. Dunlap Livestock Auction hosted the World Championship in 2002. The 60th anniversary also brought James Schaben Sr. out of retirement for a while as he auctioned cattle. Although only 27 years old, Shobe has more than two decades of auctioneering experience. He was only six years old when his parents, Jayson and Debby Shobe, owners of United Country Shobe Auction and Realty of Lewistown, allowed him to auction at a sale. Shobe Auction handles
farm and ranch equipment and real estate. Even at an earlier age, Shobe would practice auctioneering after sales were done. His first experience in auctioning livestock was in North Dakota at a purebred Charolais sale; he was 10 or 11 years old at the time. Shobe learned his trade from his father and past LMA World Champions. He would get videos of the world championship contests and study them. “For me, meeting a World Champion Auctioneer is like meeting a movie star,” Shobe stated. And even though he is now a World Champion like his idols, Shobe said meeting former champions will still be like meeting stars. Shobe is also a rodeo announcer for the Professional Rodeo Cowboys Association and is lead singer and lead guitar player in his own band, “Kyle Shobe and the Walk ‘em Boys.” Other band members include his brother Justin on drums and vocals, Jaxon Allen on bass guitar, and Jaxon’s brother Weston on rhythm, 12 string, and electric guitar. The band plays traditional country tunes and also performs some original works written by Shobe and band members. Shobe’s favorite original work is “This Side of the Radio,” a song about the media twisting the news to make it appear things are worse than they are. That was a message Shobe gave before singing the national anthem (his first time to do so) at the start of his turn on the auction block in Dunlap. “There is a lot to be thankful for,” he stated. Shobe said he could have competed in the World Auctioneer contest earlier than two years ago but wanted to make sure he was ready. Last year, his first time in the contest, Shobe was the runner-up overall and was named the Audrey K. Banks “Rookie of the Year.”
June 2010 Kyle Shobe, the Livestock Marketing Association’s World Champion Livestock Auctioneer, shows the form that won the title during Dunlap Livestock Auction’s 60th anniversary on Friday, August 6. Photo by Gordon Wolf
He said he was very surprised with the wins both years “especially the first year, making it to the top five, let alone the top three. “This year I drew yearly in the final round so I was able to watch all the other finalists. I picked four of them to be in the top,” he stated. He didn’t pick himself as a finalist, however. This year during his travels Shobe will see a lot of the United States and many different livestock auctions. He said each livestock auction is different but that the people all have the common link to the livestock industry. Shobe enjoyed his guest appearance at Dunlap Livestock Auction. “It is evident that the Schaben family has a lot invested in its business, not just financially but that they’ve put their hearts and souls into it,” he stated. “It is really evident that they care about their customers.” After his year as World Champion, Shobe will go back home to the family auction business and will remain active with LMA. World Champions are not allowed to compete again. “I didn’t get involved in LMA just for the contest,” he stated. “It comes back to education. LMA provides a lot of that and provides a lot of support to livestock auctions.”
James Schaben Sr., who with wife Ruth bought Dunlap Livestock Auction and began operating it in 1950, auctions cattle during the business’s 60th anniversary on Friday. Pictured from left are Ruth Schaben, Jay Schaben, Gary Rupiper, James Schaben Sr., World Champion Livestock Auctioneer Kyle Shobe, Jon Schaben and Julie Schaben. Photo by Gordon Wolf
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