The Country Classics
Trivia – What animal is being sold in Leroy Van Dyke’s “Auctioneer?”
What farm animal is being sold in Leroy Van Dyke’s “The Auctioneer?” The answer is at the very end of the song, and at the end of this article.
Leroy Van Dyke was born Leroy Frank Van Dyke, October 4, 1929, in Mora Missouri. When Nancy and I attended the Missouri State Fair last year I made a note of “Leroy Van Dyke Boulevard” on the fairgrounds. This article is long overdue.
Van Dyke was catapulted into country music recording fame in 1956, with his composition “Auctioneer,” which sold over 2.5 million records. He wrote the song about the life of his cousin, National Auctioneers Association Hall of Famer Ray Sims, also a Missourian. Van Dyke had the lead role of a budding country music performer in the 1967 movie “What Am I Bid?”, in which Sims played himself as an auctioneer. “The Auctioneer’ was co-written with Buddy Black.
What is the relationship between the Missouri State Fair in Sedalia Missouri and Leroy Van Dyke? Van Dyke continues a full performance schedule, traveling from his office/home complex on his 1,000-acre ranch in west central Missouri near Sedalia.
This information is from Gladys Van Dyke:
“Two years ago, the Country Gold Tour began raising funds for youth agriculture programs like 4-H and Future Farmers of America by auctioning signed guitars after every performance,” said Gladys Van Dyke, manager of the Country Gold Tour and wife of Leroy. “Last year we generated over $61,885 in contributions. These proceeds went directly to benefit the student programs.”
The 4-H program teaches young Missourians through “Learning by Doing.” More than 9,000 adult volunteers teach children between the ages of 8 and 19 skills they can use for the rest of their lives. Whether it is creating items displayed in the Missouri State Fair 4-H Building or raising and training animals to compete, these students are able to show their talents through the 11-day Fair.
We appreciate the Van Dyke’s dedication to 4-H and the way they represent Missouri so well. Nancy and I will attend the Missouri State Fair again this year, seeing the dedication of many 4-H members.
In 2008 Leroy Van Dyke performed at the fair. Other artists included Helen Cornelius, Rex Allen, Jr., Jim Ed Brown, Bobby Bare, Moe Brandy, T.G. Sheppard, and Charlie Rich, Jr. After every performance, the artists interact with the audience offering handshakes and autographs.
Now for the answer to the question “What farm animal is being sold in Leroy Van Dyke’s “The Auctioneer?” The answer is hogs, and yes, you can see the hog auctions in the swine pavilion during the fair. Prices have gone up a little since Leroy and Buddy wrote the song. Here is a link to the song, but you can’t hear the part about the hogs. Listen to the radio version on WQAH, or ask Carol Lynn to play to song for you, and you’ll hear it.
Visit the official Leroy Van Dyke website for more. Here is more about Leroy Van Dyke and a great interview with him:
Related posts:
- Country Classics office building before and after photos
- Steel guitarists from Missouri in Steel Guitar Hall of Fame
- Nominees for Greatest Honky Tonk Songs Volume 1
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