Justin Oakenfull, a territory sales manager based at Elders Inverell, has won the prestigious national title at the ALPA Young Auctioneers Competition.
2024 national young auctioneer winner Justin Oakenfull (right) alongside 2023 winner Harry Waters.
The competition, which is held each year at the Sydney Royal Easter Show, featured nine exceptional competitors from across Australia, showcasing the best of the country's emerging auctioneering talent. Participants were vying for the coveted Prosser Trophy and the opportunity to represent Australia at the 2024 Calgary Stampede.
Justin was selected as the winner, with a consistent and strong performance across his three lots.
"I am very honoured and humbled to accept the win, it’s quite a surreal feeling,” Justin said.
“It was a very, very tight competition, and a big shock to be honest. But I am very happy, it's a fantastic outcome.”
Elders National Livestock Manager Peter Homann, who attended the competition, said he was very impressed with the caliber of this year’s competitors, both in the national and NSW competitions, which were held on the same day.
“We are so proud of Jacob Kerrisk, from Wagga Wagga, for kicking things off for Elders in the NSW comp, followed by Harry Cozens, from Albury, and Justin in the National competition,” Peter said.
“They all sold very well and represented Elders wonderfully. For Justin to take home the top prize, that is just fantastic."
Ryan Robinson, NSW State General Manager said the whole team is immensely proud of Justin, who first started with the Elders team as a livestock trainee.
“Justin was an inaugural winner of the Peter Cox Trainee of the Year award, and his work ethic has seen his business go from strength to strength within the NSW network,” Ryan said.
“He was a runner up in the NSW Young Auctioneer Competition of 2023 and has now taken out of the 2024 National Award. He has done his family, his friends and Elders proud.
“For the last 185 years, Elders has invested in the next generation of talent, and Justin is a true example of that, a pinnacle of success."
Justin's triumph adds to the legacy of excellence established by Elders auctioneers, following in the footsteps of Harry Waters from Elders Gundagai, who won the award in 2023. It underscores Elders' commitment to nurturing and empowering young talent, ensuring a bright future for the industry.
Justin has been given the opportunity to travel to the Calgary Stampede later in the year to represent Australia.