My question for today–

Is Jason Spence the MOST liked person in the entire livestock industry, regardless of species.  My answer is a definite and resounding YES!   One only needs to look at book-face the past week to see all of the posts, pics and stories.  Pray for the family.

       Like most everyone that has crossed paths with Spence, I have spent the last week thinking of the different encounters that I had with the man.  I met him sometime about 2010 or 2011 at a goat auction.  From then on, we became friends.  Not best friends, just acquaintances that were friendly when we saw or talked to each other.  He was always quick to shake Duke’s hand and he enjoyed talking to Tammy.  

      I’m not going to tell any stories that all of you don’t already know.  The man was a true salesman.  His true business was real estate.  But he pried his way into selling all of the goat auctions.  And he worked with the breeders, the sellers, the showmen, the kids and he went to all of the shows and premium sales which helped him to work with all of the above as well.  He was a true cheer leader for the kids and the industry.  

        I, as well as you, loved how he opened every sale with a prayer.  And he always prayed for our military people.  He could cry an auction in four different languages.  English, Spanish, German and Swahili.  He could move so fluid from English to Spanish as he counted the $s.  Back and forth.  So good!  And all the while, he could throw in a sarcastic comment, that was always perfectly timed.  Like maybe something about a Lucky Charms t shirt that I was wearing and had quit bidding at $7K on a wether.  You all know what I mean. 

         After knowing him for a couple of years, when he found out that I had some German heritage, he began throwing in some German bids, always as he held that mic to his mouth looking you right in the eye, head cocked and that finger pointing.  After I knew that he could count in German, I asked “What other languages can you count bids?” 

       Swahili?!?!   What in the hell?   Why?   He used to sell an automobile auction in Germany.  There was a buyer from some African country that used Swahili as his native language.  So, Spence taught himself how to cry an auction in Swahili.  The buyer loved it!   Any of us that have encountered Spence can imagine a crowd of Europeans at a German car auction and he targets that buyer while transitioning his chant into Swahili.  

       The boots with the eyes looking up at you.  

        A palomino trout?  Never heard of it before listening to/reading about/watching his exploits.  

      Much the same as the rest of you, I have spent time looking back at old text messages from him.  My favorite–A pic from the cockpit while flying south, his hand holding a beverage, “Enjoying a cold Dos XX at 10,500 feet with a cool 51 degrees outside.  Cheers mi amigo!”

      Without a doubt, Jason Spence is the person that has made a positive impression on so many people throughout the livestock industry.  Definitely the most liked.  Legendary! 

Cheers!  Prost!  Salud!  I don’t have a clue what the word for cheers is in Swahili.  

Guns Up and Be Blessed!