4H members talk with livestock market auctioneer

||| FROM KATHLEEN MORRIS for SAN JUAN COUNTY 4H |||

Recently members of San Juan County 4H interviewed long time auctioneer for the 4H Livestock Market Auction, Tom Pasma. Aurora Miller (club reporter), Louie Averna and Geo Averna from Orcas Fur & Feathers and Skyler Capps club reporter from Lopez 4H club. Tom will be coming to Friday Harbor for the San Juan County Fair Saturday, August 15 for the Livestock Auction which starts at 2pm in the 4H Livestock Arena.
https://extension.wsu.edu/sanjuan/4h/fair-and-auction/4-h-auctions-information/

Louie – How long have you been the auctioneer for San Juan County 4H?

Tom – I was trying to remember 1994-95 right in there so for 32 – 31 years something like that, quite a while. It used to be out in the (horse) arena in the bleachers, a long time ago. Did you know that? They used to never have the livestock facility they have now.

Geo. Oh that’s cool

Tom – It’s a lot nicer underneath , you know it’s hot during that time so having shade, it’s just a lot nicer.

Aurora – “How do you talk so fast?

Tom. So, it’s just communicating with people in a different language right? I mean it’s a fast process but if it’s going too fast or you can’t understand me then I need to slow that down, right? It’s just another way of communicating.

And auctions are fast-paced and we’re moving a lot of product through and so it’s quicker. Especially if you’re a professional bidder which a lot of people at the fair are not. But you want to be really clear and precise what you’re doing and engage your participants, your bidders, and make sure they can understand what you’re asking them. So you gotta learn how to do it slow before you can ever gain speed. Does that answer your question?

Aurora. Yeah

Skyler – How did you get into auctioneering?

Tom – I moved out here from Montana. I grew up on a ranch and I was around auctions all my life and I met a gentleman out here that owned an auction. They owned Britton Brothers Livestock Auction in Snohomish, He wanted to send me to auctioneerng school in Billings Montana, Western School of Auctioneering and then I would work for him when I came back. He paid for all of it and then that’s how I got into auctioneering.

Geo – Where did you grow up?

Tom – I grew up in Montana. My family’s been there for 150 years and I was the first one to leave, ever. And so all my family’s back in Montana. We’ve been in agriculture for all that time. We are one of the oldest families in Montana on my mom and dad’s side both, so a big family.

Geo – What part of Montana?

Tom– Southwestern Montana. You know where Dillion is? It’s straight west of Yellowstone Park 100 miles in the lower southwest corner., Beaverhead County the biggest county in Montana.

Louie – Were you in 4H when you were, like, younger?

Tom– Yes I was. Yep, it’s great. As you know it’s the biggest youth club in the world, did you know that?

Louie – “Oh I didn’t know that actually, but what were your projects?

Tom– I had steers, pigs, horses. That is the thing about 4H some don’t want to do animals so they could do something else, like one girl did Christmas wreaths. It’s a big broad range of interests that you can get involved with in 4H.

Aurora – Do you put words in between the numbers or do you just say noises?

Tom – Yeah I have a few, we call them filler words and I do have some filler words but a lot of mine are just numbers.

Skylar – What was your most memorable auction?

Tom -Well, I remember a lot of them. The month of August I do 4H fairs. I donate my time for San Juan, Skagit, Evergreen , Grays Harbor. The whole month of August I donate my time for 4H and FFA auctions. Working with kids, it’s really special more than anything, I think. I do a lot of fundraising for nonprofits also around the world.

Geo – Do you have any tips for 4H kids auctioning for their first time?

Tom – Well, show some confidence, show your animal out and smile to the crowd, get involved with it. Make sure your animal can be seen by everybody to its best quality and then engage the crowd. Say thank you for coming, pay attention to the crowd. If you come out there with a smile you’re gonna connect with the people a lot better. You know you only get one first chance.

Skyler -What types of animals have you auctioned?

Tom – Well every livestock animal you can think of pigs, sheep, goats, chickens, beef, horses. I sold a puppy once for $25,000 for a fundraiser the the humane society. The puppy was donated for a benefit

Geo – Is there anything you think the island community should know about the 4H livestock market auction?

Tom – I really enjoy coming over there because you get really good support from a wide range of people from the islands and your animals do really well. It’s important to tell the community about it and why they should come. Spread the word that you’re not only helping the children but you’re helping the community that are in 4H. You’re getting the best products available right? And it’s grown right here where you live. You see people of all walks of life there supporting 4H and it’s really important because that is what brings your community together.

Louie – What are some of your hobbies?

Tom – I’m a big fly fisherman I just took up the ancient Japanese art of fly fishing called Tenkara and there is no reel. So that and you know horses and roping and hunting when I can, meeting new people, traveling, experiencing different cultures. That’s really important and you know, just everyday learning. I want to tell everybody there because you might not be aware of it but we just opened the Bow Food Pantry. So every third week have the food pantry at the Hobson Fire Station. I found out we have a food desert here in our zip code, people needing food have to travel a long ways. Last Sunday we served 363 people.

For more information about 4H and how to sign up: https://extension.wsu.edu/sanjuan/4h/

For more information about the 4H market Auction and how you can support youth in Agriculture.
https://extension.wsu.edu/sanjuan/4h/fair-and-auction/4-h-auctions-information/