13 minute read
FAST TALKIN’ FELLAS
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Story & Photos by BAR XP PHOTO
Dean, Casey, and Jesse Lawes carry on a tradition of fasttalkin’, cowboy action. In partnership, the Lawes have run the Provost Livestock Exchange (PLE) for three generations and the auctioneering way of life certainly won’t stop there. The trend began with Jack Lawes, father of Dean and grandfather to both Casey and Jesse Lawes.
Today, the lure of quick-lipped action holds strong with a few of the Lawes great-grandchildren taking an in interest in auctioneering as well. Committed to service, community and quality marketing, the PLE’s innovation and work ethic have secured its longevity. The Lawes are dedicated to their craft and live a life that they love – ranching, rodeoing and auctioneering.
The PLE began in the mid 1950’s, under the care and direction of Les, Karen, and Don Bishop. Jack Lawes began working for the Bishop family in 1976 and bought part-ownership with Les Bishop in 1979. Originally, the PLE held pig, cattle, horse, and farm sales. While the PLE no longer runs pig sales, they do hold a regular cattle sale along with a pre-sort sale of feeder cattle. In a pre-sort sale, all cattle are weighed individually and placed in a pen with other cattle that are the same quality and condition. The cattle weight divisions are based on a 75 lb spread. The implementation of pre-sort sales, in the fall, allows the PLE to handle large numbers of cattle in an appropriate time frame. A pre-sort sale is beneficial because both the livestock and the yard help endure less stress.
Casey Lawes noted that, the pre-sort style, “…allows buyers to purchase larger groups of cattle, in one crack, with a tight sort.” Jack and Dean Lawes, along with Jerry Hewson, initiated the PLE pre-sort system and installed the individual animal scales in 2002. In the busy season, the PLE holds an extra calf sale to balance the volume of calves that are sold each fall. The PLE also utilizes Direct Livestock Marketing Systems (DLMS) to broker sales. DLMS is an internet platform where a live auctioneer sells cattle in their respective farmyards.
Aside from routine livestock sales, Jack Lawes, Dean Lawes, and Jerry Hewson, conducted farm and machinery sales with Patton Auction Services, for 15 years. The PLE has now started a branch company that conducts farm and machinery sales, under the name of Double L Auction Services. Dean, Casey, and Jesse Lawes, along with their partners, look forward to the growth of this venture.
While the fast-talkin’ fellas gain most of the auction mart’s attention, it’s crucial to note that the women of the PLE are an incredibly, valuable asset. Both Donna (Jack Lawes) and Bernadette Lawes (Dean Lawes), have been long-term office managers who have helped wherever they were needed.
As a family, the Lawes are passionate about the progression and productivity of the PLE. The respective partnerships of both the Hewson and Lakevold families have been instrumental in the business’ evolution. Darcy Lakevold, current partner, sons Kody and Klay Lakevold, and son-in-law, Dylyn Mohr all work full-time at the PLE. Family oriented like the Lawes, the Lakevolds are an integral component of the PLE’s daily operations. Sit back in your saddle and learn more about auctioneers Dean, Casey, and Jesse Lawes – The fast-talkin’ fellas of the Provost Livestock Exchange.
Dean Lawes
Following in his father Jack’s footsteps, Dean Lawes is a second-generation auctioneer. Since childhood, Dean has worked in the auction mart, even helping during the school day, when required. After graduation, Dean started as a full-time yardman / janitor and part-time auctioneer. In 1986 he bought shares in the PLE and became a full-time fieldman and auctioneer. Aside from livestock sales, Dean has also conducted farm and machinery sales, across Alberta and Saskatchewan. Dean has been in the business for more than 46 years. He noted, “There have been some bad days, but the good days have been plentiful.”
An accomplished rodeo judge, former steer wrestler, budding team roper and avid rancher, Dean knows the industry and his clients well. His life’s work has been dedicated to the livestock industry. Since childhood, he knew that he wouldn’t do anything else.
I would go to many different sales with my dad and I wanted to be in that business. What keeps me involved is easy – I am amazed at how quickly trends can change. You must get on the bus or get left behind.
Knowing good cattle and what they are worth helps a lot.
Trying to keep up with change in market trends and finding people to work at the sales can be challenging. When someone notices the extra mile that we go to sell cattle for the producer, it can be very rewarding.
The biggest change that I have seen at PLE is when we stepped into pre-sort sales. There is less stress on the cattle and the producers’ cattle sorted correctly can be a great benefit to both buyer and seller. I believe that with the large number of youth involved in the industry, it’s in good hands. We are moving in a good direction. Not much needs to change.
Learn what you are selling before you try and sell it. Always be fair to the bidders. Honesty goes a long way in any business.
Casey Lawes
The eldest son of Dean and Bernadette Lawes, auctioneering was a natural calling for this humble, handy cowboy. Casey Lawes, 31, grew-up around the auction mart and attended Lakeland College, for AG Business, following graduation. Officially, Casey began working in the auction mart at age 10, but he jokes that his career began in the fall of 1990, before he was born. At the time, Casey’s grandfather Jack had Bernadette, pregnant with Casey, leave the office to run a gate and sort cattle, due to a shortage of help. In 2011, Casey further developed his talent, attending the Western College of Auctioneering in Billings, Montana. While his calm demenour and deep voice may deceive you, Casey is an actionpacked auctioneer with a passion for rodeo and ranch life. He was the 2019 Livestock Markets Association of Canada, Rookie of The Year and holds numerous rodeo accolades. Nothing makes Casey happier than a good sale and watching his family grow-up in the lifestyle that he lives and loves. Casey is proud of his family and what they have poured their heart and soul into.
He noted, “I am also thankful for and proud of my wife Makayla Lawes. She spends countless hours taking care of ranch deeds and raising three kids, when we are all strapped to the auction market in the busy seasons.” Casey is a third-generation auctioneer with an eye for quality livestock and a work ethic that truly builds success.
The speed of the sale and the people involved attracted me to the world of auctioneering. I enjoy the speed and gravitation that the auctioneer holds. The sale is in the hands of the auctioneer. He conducts and controls every situation in a professional and timely manner. The people also keep me attracted to the business. The agricultural world is full of the greatest and most genuine people on earth and we get to deal with them daily.”
The skill set that defines me as an auctioneer is my eye for stock. I feel an auctioneer in the livestock business needs to know the cattle they are selling, both quality and condition wise. Jesse, Dad, and I worked many days, sorting, penning, and staging cattle for sales, before we were ever allowed to do any auctioneering. That time allowed us to learn the qualities of livestock and develop an eye. We enjoy giving back to the community by selling at calcuttas and events.
The most challenging thing in our role is finding help for fall runs. Yard help is hard to find and tough to keep. The hours are seasonal and they are long. The most rewarding part of our business is hearing about and being a part of the success stories. When guys sell their calves and get more than they expected it’s a win for everyone. Some of the most rewarding days are when we are asked to buy a bull in the spring or some bred cows in the fall and that clients later says, ‘Sure am happy with the calves that bull is throwing’ or ‘them bred-heifers you bought are fitting into the herd really well.’
You know you are helping them make a living and build cow herds that they can be proud of and pass down to their kids.
First, the internet has opened numerous doors to guys around the country and North America. They can see what we have to offer at our sale barns and people can bid and buy online. That, in turn, puts another bidder on the market for the producer to possibly attract with his product. Second, the speed of commerce on these livestock deals has changed so much from when granddad was selling and trading cattle. There were days when granddad and dad would sell from 7 am to midnight. Them days were extremely hard on stock, labour, and buyers.
Now, with presorts and pre-weigh systems, cattle are handled less and yard staff do not have to work around the clock. We can go through a sale in half the time it took previously. One change I would like to see in the future is more communication and market sharing between packers and producers. Producers need to be educated to make sure they are building a product that the packers want. I would also like to see a more appropriate share in profits from start to finish.
Be proud and professional in what you’re doing. Educate yourself on the product you’re selling. Know what it’s worth and who your potential buyers are. You are generating a living for your producers. They usually only get a few cheques a year and each one counts big. They are proud of the product they have produced and they want you to be professional.
Jesse Lawes
An avid rodeo competitor and an amazing auctioneer, Jesse Lawes has carved a bold career in the livestock industry. Jesse, 30, proudly calls the Provost Livestock Exchange (PLE) home and credits his work ethic to the demands of the auction mart. From an early age, the PLE was Jesse’s second home.
He said, “In the fall, if we weren’t at school or playing hockey, we were working out back of the market. We learned how to work hard, early in life.”
Since age ten, Jesse has worked in the auction mart. Like his father and brother, he even worked in the mornings, before school, when required. Jesse attended auctioneer school in Billings, Montana. He credits his skill and style to practice on the road, while driving to rodeos and selling in front of regular buyers at sales. Jesse is known for his skill with numbers and his genuine interest in economics. In 2022, Jesse placed fourth in the Livestock Markets Association of Canada competition. He is fond of a challenge and this pressure is what drew him to the competitive side of auctioneering. Above all, Jesse is proud of his family and what they have accomplished. Jesse looks forward to continuing the traditions of a ranching and auctioneering family with his own family. His son, Weston already has the fast-talkin’ bug! Backed with decades of experience, this third-generation auctioneer has a bright future ahead. Jesse’s mind for innovation has fostered change and he’s dedicated to developing his craft.
I truly always wanted to be an auctioneer, but when I was young, I didn’t know that I would be able to do it. I was attracted to auctioneering at a young age because I was around it all the time. I’ve always liked economics and that’s another thing that motivated me to be a part of the auction market. I have always been impressed with how a good auctioneer can command the attention of the crowd and sell at such a rapid pace. I really enjoy working with my family and a well-run sale, where everything has been properly advertised and presented professionally, is very rewarding for me.
The Western College of Auctioneering is a great school. I feel it gave me a great foundation. After school, I was given the opportunity to sell a lot at PLE. The main group of buyers that are at every sale have been very good about helping me learn without getting too mad when I make a mistake – it happens a lot when you are learning to sell cattle. This may sounds funny but when I was pro-rodeoing, I spent many hours driving and I would practice auctioneering when we were on the road. My travelling partners hated it at times, but it helped make me better.
I find the hours challenging in the fall run. Most of the calves in this country are marketed in October, November, and December, making for really long hours in those months, which can be hard on employees and home-life. I find it rewarding when I am able to develop a marketing plan with a customer and we are able to then sort and present those cattle into a strong, competitive market.
The technology and information that is available is a benefit to everyone in the business. With live internet sales, producers are able to watch their cattle sell from home, if needed, and they can access results from sales across the country. Buyers are also able to bid over the internet which is very popular in purebred sales. I would like to see more correlation between the amount of money producers/feeders are paid for cattle and the price of meat in stores. This could be its own article.
The technology and information that is available is a benefit to everyone in the business. With live internet sales, producers are able to watch their cattle sell from home, if needed, and they can access results from sales across the country. Buyers are also able to bid over the internet which is very popular in purebred sales. I would like to see more correlation between the amount of money producers/feeders are paid for cattle and the price of meat in stores. This could be its own article. WHR
