Paden Lennick Won North Dakota FFA Auction Contest

The New Salem student secured first place at the Big Iron Farm and Construction Show in early October.

Updated on Oct. 3, 2026 in Rodeo

Expressive editorial sports illustration of a student in a hat gesturing at a podium, capturing the energy of an auctioneering contest.
Paden Lennick of New Salem won the North Dakota FFA auctioneering contest at the Big Iron Farm and Construction Show in early October. AI Illustration. Upload story photo >

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Paden Lennick of New Salem claimed top honors at the North Dakota FFA auctioneering contest held at the Big Iron Farm and Construction Show. Gunnar Wagner of Bowman finished the competition in second place.

Why it matters

The North Dakota FFA organizes these clinics and competitions to introduce students to the professional auctioneering industry. These events provide participants with a platform to develop and refine their public speaking and bid-calling skills.

Paden Lennick earned 1st place in the competition, while Gunnar Wagner secured the 2nd place position. These rankings followed an evaluation by judges during the event at the Big Iron Farm and Construction Show.

The players

North Dakota FFA

This is a student organization that prepares members for premier leadership, personal growth, and career success through agricultural education.

Paden Lennick

He is a student from New Salem who won the recent auctioneering contest.

Gunnar Wagner

He is a student from Bowman who placed second in the competition.

The details

Students participated in an auctioneering clinic designed to teach the fundamentals of the trade before facing formal evaluation by judges. The North Dakota FFA hosted this event as part of its ongoing mission to foster interest in the auctioneering profession.

Timeline

  1. The contest occurred at the Big Iron Farm and Construction Show in October 2026.

  2. An auction contest is scheduled for the North Dakota Auctioneers Association annual convention in February 2027.

  3. The State FFA Convention will host another auction contest in June 2027.

Season Trajectory

This competition marks the start of the state's seasonal youth auctioneering circuit, which continues through the spring. These contests serve as precursors to higher-level state conventions where students further demonstrate their progress.

Top finishers at this contest establish momentum heading into the February 2027 association convention and the June 2027 State FFA Convention. Participants use these results to gauge their proficiency against other students across the state.

The takeaway

Students interested in the auctioneering profession can continue to build their skills through upcoming state-level contests in 2027. These events offer a clear path for youth to transition from classroom training to live, competitive bid-calling environments.

What happens next

The North Dakota FFA will hold an auction contest at the North Dakota Auctioneers Association annual convention in February 2027, followed by another contest at the North Dakota State FFA Convention in June 2027.

Further reading

For more information on upcoming events, visit the Rodeo section.

Source note: This article includes information reported by Agweek.

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