The North Dakota Auctioneers Association has launched an educational partnership with the state’s FFA organization, establishing a multi-tier bid-calling pathway that gives students hands-on auction training and a live stage at the Big Iron Farm Show. According to the North Dakota Auctioneers Association, the inaugural Fall Bid-Calling Camp is scheduled for Wednesday, September 16, at Steffes Auctioneers in West Fargo.
Bid-Calling Camp Details and Training Schedule
The one-day event is designed to introduce high school agricultural students to professional auctioneering through direct mentorship. According to the North Dakota Auctioneers Association, students will train alongside association member auctioneers and Justin Kennedy of the Oklahoma Auction School. The curriculum covers chant building, ring work, item descriptions, stage presence, public speaking, and the commercial mechanics of an auction career.
“We want every FFA member in the state who’s curious about auctioneering to have a shot at trying it.”
Registration is free for the first 25 students who sign up, while additional participants may register for $75 to offset camp expenses, according to the AgUpdate coverage. The association is covering all meals, contest materials, and awards at no cost to students or local chapters.
Big Iron Farm Show Student Contest
Training culminates in a live student auctioneering contest at 3:45 p.m. at the Red River Farm Network Building. The competition runs concurrently with the Big Iron Farm Show in West Fargo, offering participants an immediate audience of agricultural producers, industry professionals, and community members.
The West Fargo workshop functions as the opening phase of a structured three-stage pipeline developed jointly by the North Dakota Auctioneers Association and North Dakota FFA. Participants completing the initial camp remain eligible to advance to subsequent competitive tiers.
State Competition Timeline and Advancement
Students progressing past the fall event will compete in a Preliminary State Contest scheduled during the North Dakota Auctioneers Association 75th Anniversary Convention in February 2027. From that preliminary round, the top five to ten competitors will advance to the official North Dakota State FFA Bid-Calling Championship at the 2027 State FFA Convention.
The collaborative program is open to any participating FFA student across North Dakota. Organizers encourage agricultural teachers, FFA advisors, parents, and grandparents to connect interested students with registration details through the North Dakota Auctioneers Association.
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