DUNLAP, Iowa (DTN) -- Persistence and emotion pushed Dean Edge to the top to be named the 2025 World Livestock Auctioneer Champion last week in Dunlap.

Edge said his main mentor to becoming an auctioneer was his family's good friend and neighbor Dan Skeels, who was also the 2004 World Livestock Auctioneer Champion. "We only live 5 miles apart. I have worked under Dan and now I do his bull sale," he added. Another mentor, Blair Vold, gave him one of his first chances to sell. Vold died May 11. Vold's celebration of life was held June 3 in Ponoka, Alberta, which increased Edge's emotion on the auction block as he competed later in the week.

Edge's ninth time qualifying for the contest proved to be his lucky one. This year was also his sixth year to make the finals. He said once he got rolling, he was hooked on trying to win the contest.

COMFORT ON THE BLOCK HELPED

Although he was so far from home, Edge said he did have a great level of comfort on the block in Dunlap as he has become friends with the Schaben and Epperly families through the years, the hosts for this year's contest. Dunlap Livestock Auction's auctioneer Jon Schaben was the 2003 World Champion and Will Epperly won the title in 2022. "Being able to get comfortable with my surroundings, being surrounded by people I know, and having the experience of competing so many times definitely was an advantage for me," he added.

Edge is a 1999 graduate of Western College of Auctioneering. For the coming year he will travel the United States and Canada visiting auction barns and promoting the livestock industry.

He said the current cattle prices are something he never expected to see, as they are nearly double compared to two years ago. His area of Alberta has many cow-calf producers. On average, he sells two sales per week in the summer and three to six sales in the fall, along with beef breed production sales and bull sales in the region. "This championship means I can better serve my customers, and it gives me a chance to learn more about how to help them market their cattle," he said.

ONLY THIRD CANADIAN TO WIN

Edge, who is thankful for the support of his family and sponsors, is only the third Canadian to win the contest. Besides Skeels, who is also from Rimbey, Steve Liptay of Bowmanville, Ontario, was the 1976 World Champion.

This year, Brennin Jack, of Virden, Manitoba, was named reserve champion, and Preston Smith, of Imperial, Nebraska, was runner up. Tyler Bell, of Anderson, Texas, was the Audrey K. Banks Rookie of the Year.

Other top 10 finalists were: Neil Bouray, Webber, Kansas; Justin Mebane, Bakersfield, California; Jace Thompson, Billings, Montana; Ryan Konynenbelt, Fort Macleod, Alberta; Andrew Sylvester, Westmoreland, Kansas; Steve Goedert, Templeton, California; and Barrett Simon, Rosalia, Kansas.

The 2026 World Livestock Auctioneer Championship will be held June 18-20 in St. Onge, South Dakota.

To watch a video from the contest: https://www.dtnpf.com/…

Jennifer Carrico can be reached at jennifer.carrico@dtn.com

Follow her on social platform X @JennCattleGal

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