Jack Whitty reckons he's a better auctioneer and a better person for his 2024 Sydney Royal experience in the State Young Auctioneers final - and he can't wait to open bidding on this year's big event.
Jack was just 19 when he contested his first State final, an experience that's shaped both the day-to-day of his job and his preparations for this year.
"Last year was a really good building block," he said as he looks to the 2025 event scheduled for Friday 11 April.
"I'm a lot better auctioneer for it.
"I learnt plenty of different techniques off the back of it and a different style of selling so I'm really looking forward to going to Sydney again and giving it another crack."
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Jack grew up around cattle and shows and then followed dad Luke - a former winner of this competition - into the business at a young age.
His dad has obviously been one of his key mentors both in getting established as a livestock agent, but in knowing the value of the Young Auctioneers competitions.
There are some key differences between selling at the sheepyards at the Central West Livestock Exchange of a Tuesday morning, and selling at Sydney Royal.
Just getting used to a microphone and using that to your advantage is key - but so is adjusting your tempo and intensity to create atmosphere within the very different environment that is Sydney Royal.
"You need to be able to take your intensity to another level to engage 3000 people," Jack said.
"With a bit of experience and practice coming into the competition this year I feel as though I've got that ability to engage a crowd."
Jack's plan for the main event is to have as ordinary a morning as possible, and to keep his sale approach simple.
"Going over those steers and picking out four or five key aspects or each steer to emphasise - emphasising those key factors rather than trying to do and say too much," he said.
"That's probably where my focus is this year: say more numbers than words."
But there's so much more to this event than making a sale.
"I really like livestock and probably more so connecting with people through the industry, that's where my focus is and I'm
looking forward to the opportunity to do it all again," Jack said.
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