Eighth Annual Stock Show Bid Calling Contest held at the Civic Center Sunday

RAPID CITY, S.D. — 25 contestants took part in the eighth annual Stock Show Bid Calling Contest on Sunday at the Civic Center.

Using strategic, rhythmic chants to entice the highest bidder, contenders sought to be crowned the winner of the fast-talking art. Each auctioneer was judged on their ability to work the crowd, and their aptitude in keeping up with the rapid pace of bids.

The Stock Show Bid Calling Contest promotes the business of auctions, a non-traditional platform to sell goods that may have otherwise not sold.

“People come to auctions because it does excite them. They have fun at auctions. People like to bid, it gets their heart racing and that’s one of the reasons we promote the auction way. We feel that when you market something through an auction, you can get more for it then you can just trying to sell it on Facebook, let’s say,” said Curt Littau, President of the South Dakota Auctioneer Association.

Littau says the number of contestants is comparable to that of last year, with many of the same faces.

Several of the participants were from Minnesota, Montana and Wyoming.