Women have long had a place on the auction block at livestock auctions but traditionally they have had roles as clerks, recording sellers, buyers and final bids. That role, however, is changing as women in agriculture, and in other professions, are increasingly taking on jobs that are commonly considered professions for men.
Like many agricultural enterprises, auctions also are mostly family-run businesses that see several generations carrying on the tradition. This is true for Cookie Lockhart of Steamboat Springs, CO, and the Belle Plaine Commission in Minnesota where sisters Erika Ediger and Samantha “Sam” Ediger Johnson are the fifth generation of their family in the business.
Lockhart, often referred to as the Queen of Auctioneers or the Legendary Lady of Auctioneering, has been actively working the sale ring since 1963. It was then that she attended the Reisch World Wide College of Auctioneering—the only woman in a class of 125 men.
[inline_image file=”ee41fc1005955073f0a02b32460b41c1.jpg” caption=”Cookie Lockhart auctions a lamb at the Eagle County, CO, Junior Livestock Auction. On this day, she participated along with the lead auctioneer, Scott Shuman of Hall and Hall Auctions.”]
[inline_image file=”15c9eabce32183532efbc46bae595c84.jpg” caption=”This is not Lockhart’s first appearance in WLJ; this photo is from May 1966 when she appeared with her brother, Darwin, who was also an auctioneer.”]
Lockhart’s father, Si, and brother Darwin were already established auctioneers running the business Si founded it in 1932 as Lockhart Auction and Realty (now Lockhart Auction). Cookie told WLJ, “My brother, Darwin, was my idol, my mentor, my inspiration. He taught me everything the first 10 years I was in business, but he passed away when he was only 40 and I had to learn on my own.”
Asked about her decision to become an auctioneer, Lockhart said she was a divorced single mom and knew she wanted to go to some type of school when her mother suggested she go to auctioneering school. Lockhart questioned her mother, asking, “Isn’t that for boys?” Her mother responded, telling Cookie she had a good deep voice and a good personality. So she went to the school and returned to join the family business, which at that time sold a lot of livestock, as well as land and estate auctions.
Over time, livestock sales phased out because of little demand in the Steamboat Springs area and the fact that there is no longer a livestock sale barn in town. Lockhart, however, is still active in real estate, auctioning estate and equipment sales, as well as offering her services at charity events.
The family business has always had multiple interests and Lockhart said she never specialized in one area “partly because we don’t have a big population, but I have sold in 20 states. And if there is livestock on a ranch liquidation, we will sell it.”
Lockhart remains sharp on livestock trends and can still hold her own selling cattle. She noted a recent trip to Montana when she stopped to see Ted Odel at the Montana Livestock Auction in Ramsay. It happened to be sale day and Odel persuaded Lockhart onto the block to sell a few lots. “I hadn’t sold livestock like that for quite a while, but it sure was fun. I was accepted and getting the bids the same as anyone else,” she said.
Firsts
Lockhart has earned the reputation that goes along with the title, Queen of Auctioneers. She was the first woman to be inducted into the Colorado Auctioneers Hall of Fame in 2002 and the National Auctioneers Hall of Fame in 2007. She said those honors are meaningful because they are voted on by members of the Hall of Fame, not the general membership of the organizations.
Another first was in 1975 when she was the first woman contestant in the World Livestock Auctioneer Championship. She didn’t win, but it helped her gain recognition and acceptance.
Lockhart is in the process of liquidating the storefront business in Steamboat Springs that includes antiques and western memorabilia. But make no mistake, she plans to remain actively involved, selling real estate and calling bids at estate and fundraising auctions.
Ediger Auctions
In Belle Plaine, MN, the Ediger family started its auction business when Erika and Sam’s grandfather moved to the area in 1956 and bought the Belle Plaine Commission Company focused on livestock and hay sales. With eight children in the family all of them were involved with the business, and eventually the sisters’ dad, Pat, uncle John and an aunt went to auction school. Later when their grandfather retired, Pat and John bought the business.
[inline_image file=”892a328b4acd61f3c776c6934c606e1c.jpg” caption=”Sam and Erika Ediger work the sale block during a livestock sale at the Belle Plaine Commission Company.”]
Sam explained that she and Erika were already involved in several aspects of the business, but when John moved to Missouri in 2002, “That’s when Erika and I decided we were going to step up and try to fill the shoes.” They attended the Continental Auction School in Mankato, MN, in April 2003.
In addition to the auction barn, the family business also includes Ediger Auction Service, which specializes in on-site sales including estate, equipment and farm sales. “We are well-rounded, we can sell cattle during the day and go to a benefit auction at night,” said Sam.
Although being part of a family business helped with being accepted, Sam and Erika said they also had to prove themselves, sometimes getting a second look when they take the microphone and gavel. Sam noted, “I would say a lot of people, when they haven’t heard a female auctioneer, you can tell by the way they look at you. But afterwards they will often come up and say, ‘Wow, I didn’t know you could do that.’” She added, “It’s kind of fun, and obviously in this area most people know us and know that we’ve been involved and they know that we are capable of it because we have proved ourselves.”
Erika added, “It’s not just a man’s world anymore.”
Proving themselves as capable auctioneers goes beyond having a good chant. They also must have knowledge of the animals or products being sold. “You need to do your homework,” Erika said, “Sometimes research is necessary as it is their job to represent the seller in the best way possible.”
When it comes to livestock sales they can easily identify animals that are in good condition and can talk up the good points to garner bids. Sellers help with this aspect also by providing vaccination records and other information. Sam told WLJ, “With cattle or with anything, the more you are around it the more familiar you become with it, so you can look at cattle and know which ones may need a little more feed or conditioning. The next one might be fat and sassy and shined up. The more you are around it you have a better feel for things as well. It becomes easier.”
Asked about the most challenging and the most rewarding aspect of auctioneering, Sam said it is similar to any job in dealing with people and trying to keep everyone happy. “At the end of day day you hope to have a happy seller and a happy buyer.”
Erika agreed, saying it is about “putting it out to sellers that you are going to do your best for them. Representing them to the best of your ability is important. But it is also important to be supportive of the buyers and not misrepresenting things we are selling. We want to be honest and truthful, and at the end of the day we want everyone to be happy.”
Advice
Entering non-traditional professions can be challenging, but Sam and Erika both advise girls or women considering a career in auctioneering to not shy away. “Go for it!”, said Erika. “Believe in yourself and you can do it.”
Likewise, Sam said, “If you want to, don’t let anybody tell you ‘No.’ Put your foot to the ground and prove yourself — you are capable.”
The chant goes on
All three ladies agreed they will continue to call bids as long as they have voices.
“Who’ll give me a hundred dollars? One hundred dollar bid, now two, now two, will ya give me two? ….” — Rae Price, WLJ editor
