Kyle Shobe has made a career using his voice. In short, he talks to people—from the auction block, from the dance hall stage, from the classroom and even from the announcer’s seat at the “Daddy of ’em All” in Cheyenne, WY. While he did attend college, it wasn’t for auctioneering. He learned that trade not long after he learned to talk. At just five years old, Shobe started his multifaceted career on the auction block of the family business, Shobe Auction, Inc., in Lewistown, MT.
“In kindergarten, I started selling behind the microphone at those sales with my dad,” Shobe told WLJ. “I cut my teeth on box lots and glassware and knickknacks. Then worked my way up from there to shop equipment and farm sales. I went to college and then came back to the family business. I earned my first dollar at Lewistown Livestock, so coming back was full circle.”
Melodies of the West
Shobe inherited another aptitude from his father—music. Shobe said it was always part of his life and often filled his childhood home.
“There was a lot of music in our house,” Shobe said. “When I was a kid, square dancing was the social activity. I grew up listening to a lot of Western music. I started playing guitar in elementary school, played brass and sang in the choir.”
In high school, Shobe started a band and performed locally. He would go on to have a band in college at the University of Wyoming where he earned degrees in agricultural economics and animal science with a minor in music. Later, he followed his love of music all the way to Nashville.
“When I moved back home, I started Kyle Shobe and The Walk ’Em Boys and we just filled a niche at the time when there wasn’t a lot of live music in Montana,” Shobe said. “Through my connections and network in the ag industry we were able to play a lot of rodeos, stockgrowers’ functions and local events.”
For Shobe, it isn’t about record deals and fame, it’s about preserving the wholesome community fun he grew up with, talking to people, and telling the story of the Western lifestyle.
“I spend my days and nights marketing cattle,” Shobe said. “I don’t have the time I once did to book shows and write songs as often, but that’s alright.”
He continued, “It’s not something I’ve wanted to do solely, but I feel it complements the other things I do. I love the auction business and the livestock business. I can’t imagine not doing those things. The music is just another opportunity to be amongst our people. It’s a chance to see our customers and hopefully, provide some good music in the meantime.”
Shobe’s music can be found on all streaming platforms and is available on CD via his website, kyleshobe.com.
Calling the shots
Though Shobe’s musical career is something he does as he can, his day-to-day also requires good rhythm. In 2010, Shobe’s auctioneering talent was recognized when he was crowned the World Livestock Auctioneer Champion. In 2020, Shobe and his wife, Jodie, purchased Lewistown Livestock, where he auctioneers his own sales. Shobe said auctioneering and music go hand in hand.
“Not all auctioneers are singers, but for me, auctioneering came naturally because of my relationship with music and rhythm,” Shobe said. “Understanding pitch, tone and tempo always assisted me when I was crafting my chant and developing my own style.”
In addition to his own sales, Shobe auctioneers at sales across the country as a Superior Livestock Auction auctioneer.
“In addition to the Lewistown Livestock, much of my time is spent on the auction block at production sales,” Shobe said. “That’s where I feel I’m able to bring value to my clients. It’s something I’ve worked hard to build through relationships I’ve developed over the years.”
Shobe said he’s grown with his clients over the past 15 years. Many of his clients started out selling 25 bulls to a room of just 10 people but have grown to 100-head sales.
“That’s where my passion is—working with people in the purebred sector,” Shobe said. “And that’s not specific to one breed, but all breeds because I think they all have something to contribute to the industry.”
Forging connections
In between his time on the auction block and the stage, Shobe teaches the next generation of auctioneers at the Western College of Auctioneering in Manhattan, MT. Shobe’s father attended the auctioneering school and nearly 20 years ago, Shobe was invited to be an instructor there.
“When you hear someone in the auctioneering business, you can almost bet on where they went to school based on their sound,” he said. “Western College of Auctioneering produces a certain sound and rhythm. I always enjoy being able to share with the next generation of auctioneers through teaching.”
Shobe noted there’s a difference between being a “bid caller” and being an “auctioneer.”
“Sincerity, coming across the microphone genuinely, and having a sound knowledge of the product you’re selling—those are the critical aspects of being a good auctioneer,” Shobe said. While a bid caller might get the job done, an auctioneer is the full package, he added.
“That’s what I strive to be. Growing up in the business, I was not solely a contract auctioneer, so I know what it’s like to have to answer for the market on any given day,” Shobe said. “I genuinely care about the people we’re working with. That’s why I’m in this business.”
Shobe said his primary goal is establishing and maintaining meaningful relationships. He feels he is the most successful in the people aspect of the business, striving to know his clients and customers. “I work to know the producers and the customers sitting in the crowd. I know what kind of cattle they have and what kind of bulls they want to buy.”
Shobe has a personal relationship with producers and because of that, they know they can trust him. “I love being behind the microphone in a production sale setting. You have to know your product and your customer. You also have to know if you are within the acceptable value range for the market,” he said.
One of Shobe’s clients is the Strommen Ranch in Solen, ND. They just wrapped up their last production sale of the year where Shobe has been their auctioneer for more than a decade. Aaron and Sheyna Strommen, owners and operators of Strommen Ranch, said having Shobe involved in their production sales has been “a great partnership” for their operation. The Strommen Ranch holds two sales annually. In February, they hold their first sale of the year where they offer 100 seedstock bulls. Their December sale features approximately 60 seedstock bulls, 700 commercial females supplied by their customers and 100 seedstock heifers.
“We had been holding a sale for a few years before we switched to a professional auction system,” Aaron Strommen said. “At the time, our customers were a little nervous about the change, but, man, when they met Kyle Shobe, everyone was on board. We are very customer focused and he connects with our customers extremely well. His knowledge of the livestock market is strong and he is a very talented auctioneer. Most importantly, he is a great guy. He is a good, honest family man and faith based. People can trust him and he connects with people on their level.”
Shobe said connecting with people is a big part of being an effective auctioneer. Auction sales are driven by emotions, he said, and many times the crowd may have overlooked a certain animal. His job is to recognize that and do what it takes to bring the animal to their attention.
“I strive to be clear and someone who is enjoyable to listen to. With that comes a little bit of humor,” he shared. “It’s a balance of professionalism and good humor, knowing your product and being sincere across the microphone. I strive to communicate with purpose in everything I say.”
Strommen said Shobe is dedicated to what he does and still works with his father often. The ranch’s sale was on a Wednesday and Shobe’s livestock market sells on Tuesdays. His dad drove him to the ranch while he was handling a full day of the weekly sale, getting in after midnight, only to head back home after the sale to get back in after midnight again.
“They are a talented family,” Strommen said. “They’re very dedicated to serving their clients and their community.”
Some of Shobe’s intentionality and humor comes across the microphone in his other professional arena—PRCA rodeos. Shobe got his PRCA card in 2003 and has been announcing PRCA events ever since. Every July since 2007, Shobe spends time lending his voice to the famous Cheyenne Frontier Days Rodeo where he is the track announcer.
He grew up announcing rodeos, horse shows and team ropings, which eventually became high school and amateur rodeos. After getting his PRCA card, he dived into the pro circuit.
“When the opportunity to announce at Cheyenne came along, I jumped on it and it’s become part of my life,” Shobe said, calling it a family affair. The whole family comes along, and his kids have grown up working and being part of the world’s biggest rodeo each summer.
“It’s been a really unique experience to get to be part of the Cheyenne Frontier Days family,” he said. “It’s more than 3,000 volunteers who come together to make this event happen every summer since 1897.”
Family focus
When it comes to family, Shobe said he and his wife are a team. “Jodie and I are partners in the sale barn and in life,” Shobe said.
She is very much involved in everything they do, he said, managing the office at the market and holding down the fort at home while he’s on the road traveling. “I can’t imagine doing any of this without her,” he said.
As a dad of five children ranging in age from almost one to a junior in high school, Shobe said while he loves having his kids involved, he’ll always encourage them to pursue their own interests whatever that may be.
“They’re all involved in the livestock auction market in some way, shape or form,” Shobe said. “My oldest daughter, Hadlee, has been coming with me to ship cattle in the country and that’s been a lot of fun. There’s also a lot of horse work the kids get to be in on.”
The Shobe kids aren’t just involved in the livestock business, though. Shobe’s son, McKay, has been playing music with the band. He has played the drums since he was young and now he’s even playing guitar and singing. On top of his musical pursuits, McKay is also a dedicated athlete.
Sharing the true story
Shobe has made a career of talking to people in agriculture, but he said we all need to do a better job talking to those outside of our industry.
“We’re private people and humble people, but we can’t let those things keep us from telling our story,” he said. “There are tremendous stories of family, legacy, hard work and real life out here.”
Much of the stories consumers hear are rooted in misinformation. “We all have to do better in promoting agriculture, and specifically livestock production, and its incredible significance not just in our economy, but in our way of life,” he said.
Shobe said he will continue to share a little bit of the true story of agriculture through the microphone as long as there are livestock auctions, country music and rodeos in the American West.
