Andrew Rapley is AuctionsPlus' Market Operations Coordinator. Pic: Supplied
An article by Alex McLaughlin
AuctionsPlus’ Market Operations Coordinator, Andrew (Andy) Rapley, has become a key figure in the online agricultural sales space since joining the company in 2021.
His passion for agriculture began during childhood, spending holidays on his family’s farm near Gundagai. After graduating from the University of Sydney with a degree in Agricultural Science and Animal Veterinary Bioscience, Andy discovered AuctionsPlus and was drawn to its innovative approach to online livestock and commodity sales.
A keen golfer and thoroughbred racing enthusiast, Mr Rapley brings his diverse interests into his work, thriving on communication with vendors and clients across the agricultural sector.
“I started with AuctionsPlus as a Market Operator. However, now my role here is Market Operations Coordinator. I handle all the operations for all our commercial sales, and do a bit of everything else in between," Mr Rapley explained, highlighting the variety in his position.
He emphasised the inclusivity and friendliness of the AuctionsPlus team, which makes working with the company so enjoyable: “It’s just such a great team, and everyone’s always happy to help out."
Beyond the internal dynamics, Mr Rapley finds interacting with diverse sellers one of the best aspects of his job.
"Whether it’s talking to a big stud cattle breeder or a smaller producer, it’s really enjoyable chatting to all the different characters," he added.
One standout moment of Mr Rapley’s time at AuctionsPlus was the platform interface Australia’s first online camel sale during the height of COVID-19, which saw nearly 100 head of camels sold.
Now, Mr Rapley views the listing of camels more often, however it's certainly not common, to be one of the most intriguing listings in his role.
“Coming from Sydney, you don’t see camels often unless it’s at a beach tour or something alike, so selling them online is always intriguing,” Mr Rapley recalled.
While optimistic about the agricultural industry, Mr Rapley acknowledged the challenges he believes are most prominent, particularly the slow uptake of new technologies by some farmers.
“The younger generation is more accepting of new technologies, but the older generation tends to be steadfast in their ways,” he said.
Yet, this hasn’t dampened his enthusiasm for the future of agriculture, noting the industry's diversity and exciting technological advancements.
“All of it excites me,” Mr Rapley said. “There’s such a variety of people and technologies in agriculture. The future is bright, and it’s really exciting to be a part of it.”
