Col Thexton isn’t one to beat about the bush. Thirty years ago he was the only Western Australian agent to list cattle with AuctionsPlus, then known as CALM, much to the shock of his colleagues who thought he must be mad. There’s no getting around it - it was a tough time. But Col took the plunge, started his own agency and in December this year he’ll mark his 30th consecutive annual sale - the longest running annual online sale in the country.
Col started assessing in 1988 and launched Independent Rural Agents (IRA) in Pemberton, WA in 1990. From starting out with no clients, Col now enjoys working alongside several long-term clients, including John and Christine Bendotti who will mark 30 years selling at the annual elite weaner, vealer and breeder AuctionsPlus sale this year. The relationships he’s established with vendors and buyers in an industry he loves makes it all worthwhile.
“The clients that aren’t only my clients, they’re my friends as well is what keeps me going, and the love of cattle,” Col says.
“I’m very passionate about the cattle we produce and I’ve just got to keep producing better cattle for the trades and feed lotters. You’ve got to reinvent yourself every five years to adapt to market changes and keep reassessing where you want to go.”
It’s his drive and passion for the industry that kick-started Col’s journey with AuctionsPlus all those years ago. Being able to track the welfare of the cattle was the biggest attraction for Col and the reason he sells solely online. When we caught up with him he’d just wrapped up a visit to Harvey Beef where he followed the progress of 93 cattle sold the week prior.
While it hasn’t always been an easy road, there’s certainly been no shortage of highlights for Col. Selling the one millionth animal on CALM on March 13, 1993 sits right up there in the proud memory stakes. IRA has won the Number One Cattle Branch several times, while Col’s also taken out many a Top Cattle Assessor Award. In 2011 he received the prestigious Strathtay Award in recognition of individual achievement in promoting the Angus breed and setting.
And although he’s certainly got no shortage of knowledge and experience under his belt, Col says he’ll never stop learning.
“I reckon the best advice I can give anyone is just to be honest and if you make a mistake, put your hand up and fix the problem,” he says.
“And be passionate. If you’re not going to be passionate, don't do it.”