Kyle Shobe: Talking to People

Originally Published in Western Livestock Journal

Kyle Shobe has made a career using his voice. In short, he talks to people – from the auction block, from the dance hall stage, from the classroom, and even from the announcer’s seat at “The Daddy of ‘em All” in Cheyenne. While he did attend college, it wasn’t for auctioneering. He learned the trade not long after he learned to talk. At just 5-years-old, Shobe started his multifaceted-career on the auction block of the family business, Shobe Auction, Inc. in Lewistown, Montana.

     “In kindergarten, I started selling behind the microphone at those sales with my dad,” Shobe said. “I cut my teeth on box lots and glassware and knickknacks. Then worked my way up from there to shop equipment and farm sales. I went to college and then came back to the family business. I earned my first dollar at Lewistown Livestock so coming back was full circle.”

     Shobe inherited another aptitude from his father – music. Shobe said, it was always part of his life and often filled his childhood home.

     “There was a lot of music in our house,” Shobe said. “When I was a kid, square dancing was the social activity. I grew up listening to a lot of western music. I started playing guitar in elementary school, played brass, and sang in the choir.”

     In high school, Shobe started a band and performed locally. He would go on to have a band in college at the University of Wyoming where he earned a B.A. in Agricultural Economics and Animal Science with a minor in Music. Later, he followed his love of music all the way to Nashville.

     “When I moved back home, I started Kyle Shobe and The Walk ‘Em Boys and we just filled a niche at the time when there wasn’t a lot of live music in Montana,” Shobe said. “Through my connections and network in the ag industry we were able to play a lot of rodeos, stock grower’s functions and local events.”    

     “When I was growing up, I remember attending a lot of country dances. That’s what we did for a social activity. Square dancing was a big deal and now it has started to fade away. So that’s what I wanted to pick up and we did. We filled a niche in Montana and it grew from there. As we grew, we started writing more music and recorded a few albums.”

     For Shobe, it isn’t about record deals and fame, it’s about preserving the wholesome community fun he grew up with, talking to people, and telling the story of the western lifestyle.

     “I spend my days and nights marketing cattle,” Shobe said. “I don’t have the time I once did to book shows and write songs as often, but that’s alright. It’s not something I’ve wanted to do solely, but I feel it compliments the other things I do. I love the auction business and the livestock business. I can’t imagine not doing those things. The music is just another opportunity to be amongst our people. It’s a chance to see our customers and hopefully, provide some good music in the meantime.”

     Shobe’s music can be found on all streaming platforms and is available on CD via his website: kyleshobe.com. Though Shobe’s musical career is something he does as he can, because he enjoys it, his day-to-day also requires good rhythm. In 2010, Shobe’s auctioneering talent was recognized when he was crowned the World Livestock Auctioneer Champion. In 2020, Shobe and his wife, Jodie, purchased Lewistown Livestock in Lewistown, Montana. Shobe said auctioneering and music go hand in hand.

     “Not all auctioneers are singers, but for me, auctioneering came naturally because of my relationship with music and rhythm,” Shobe said. “Understanding pitch, tone, and tempo always assisted me when I was crafting my chant and developing my own style.”

     Shobe auctioneers his own sales at Lewistown Livestock and sales across the country as a Superior Livestock Auctioneer.

     “In addition to the Lewistown Livestock, much of my time is spent on the auction block at production sales,” Shobe said. “That’s where I feel I’m able to bring value to my clients. It’s something I’ve worked hard to build through relationships I’ve developed over the years.”

     Shobe said he’s grown with his clients over the past 15 years.

     “Many of my clients started out selling 25 bulls to a room full of 10 people,” Shobe said. “We’ve been able to grow to 100-head sales in some cases. That’s where my passion is – working with people in the purebred sector. And that’s not specific to one breed, but all breeds because I think they all have something to contribute to the industry.”

     In between his time on the auction block and the stage, Shobe teaches the next generation of auctioneers at Western College of Auctioneering in Manhattan, Montana.

     “That’s where my dad went to school and nearly 20 years ago, I was invited to be an instructor there,” Shobe said. “When you hear someone in the auctioneering business, you can almost bet on where they went to school based on their sound. Western College of Auctioneering produces a certain sound and rhythm. I always enjoy being able to share with the next generation of auctioneers through teaching.”

     Shobe said, “there’s a difference between being a ‘bid caller’ and being an auctioneer.”

     “Sincerity, coming across the microphone genuinely, and having a sound knowledge of the product you’re selling, those are the critical aspects of being a good auctioneer,” Shobe said. “A bid caller might be able to get the job done, but an auctioneer is the full package. That’s what I strive to be. Growing up in the business, I was not solely a contract auctioneer, so I know what it’s like to have to answer for the market on any given day. I genuinely care about the people we’re working with. That’s why I’m in this business.”

     Shobe said his primary goal is establishing and maintaining meaningful relationships.

     “Where I have felt most successful is in the people aspect of this business,” Shobe said. “I strive to know my clients and customers. I work to know the producers and the customers sitting in the crowd. I know what kind of cattle they have and what kind of bulls they want to buy. I have a personal relationship with them, because of that, they know they can trust me. I love being behind the microphone in a production sale setting. You have to know your product and your customer. You also have to know if you are within the acceptable value range for the market.”

     One of Shobe’s clients is the Strommen Ranch in Solen, North Dakota. They just wrapped up their last production sale of the year where Shobe has been their auctioneer for more than a decade. Aaron and Sheyna Strommen, owners and operators of Strommen Ranch, said having Shobe involved in their production sales has been “a great partnership” for their operation. The Strommen Ranch holds two sales a year. In February, they hold their first sale of the year where they offer 100 seedstock bulls. Their December sale features approximately 60 seedstock bulls, 700 commercial females supplied by their customers, and 100 seedstock heifers.

     “We had been holding a sale for a few years before we switched to a professional auction system,” Strommen said. “At the time, our customers were a little nervous about the change, but, man, when they met Kyle Shobe, everyone was on board. We are very customer focused and he connects with our customers extremely well. His knowledge of the livestock market is strong and he is a very talented auctioneer. Most importantly, he is a great guy. He is a good, honest family man and faith-based. People can trust him and he connects with people on their level.”

     Shobe said connecting with people is a big part of being an effective auctioneer.

     “Auction sales are driven by emotions. Many times, for whatever reason, the crowd may have fallen asleep or overlooked a certain animal. My job as the auctioneer, is to recognize that and do what it takes to bring the animal to their attention. I strive to be clear and someone who is enjoyable to listen to, with that comes a little bit of humor. It’s a balance of professionalism and good humor, knowing your product and being sincere across the microphone. I strive to communicate with purpose in everything I say.”

     Strommen said Shobe is dedicated to what he does and still works with his father often.

     “Our sale was on Wednesday and Kyle’s livestock market has its sale on Tuesdays,” Strommen said. “His dad drove him over here while he was handling a full day of his weekly sale. They got in at about 1 a.m. here. They spent Wednesday handling our sale and then headed home to get in at 1 a.m. again. They are a talented family. They’re very dedicated to serving their clients and their community.”

     Some of Shobe’s intentionality and humor comes across the microphone in his other professional arena – PRCA rodeos. Shobe got his PRCA card in 2003 and has been announcing PRCA events ever since. Every July since 2007, Shobe spends time lending his voice to the famous Cheyenne Frontier Days Rodeo where he is the track announcer. Shobe said “it’s a family affair.”

     “I grew up announcing rodeos as well,” Shobe said. “I got asked to announce the horse shows and team ropings, which eventually became high school and amateur rodeos. Then I got my PRCA card and jumped into the pro circuit. When the opportunity to announce at Cheyenne came along, I jumped on it and it’s become part of my life. We generally take our whole family. My kids have gotten to grow up working there and being part of the biggest rodeo in the world each summer. It’s been a really unique experience to get to be part of the Cheyenne Frontier Days Family. It’s more than 3,000 volunteers who come together to make this event happen every summer since 1897.”

     When it comes to family, Shobe said he and his wife are a team.

     “Jodie and I are partners in the sale barn and in life,” Shobe said. “She is very much involved in everything we do. She manages the office at the livestock market, though she has stepped back some this past year with a newborn at home. She is always holding down the fort at home while I’m on the road and I can’t imagine doing any of this without her.”

     As a dad of five children ranging in age from almost one to junior in high school, Shobe said while he loves having his kids involved, he’ll always encourage them to pursue their own interests whatever that may be.

     “They’re all involved in the livestock auction market in some way, shape or form,” Shobe said. “My oldest daughter, Hadlee, has been coming with me to ship cattle in the country and that’s been a lot of fun. There’s also a lot of horse work the kids get to be in on.”

     The Shobe kids aren’t just involved in the livestock business though.

     “My son, McKay, has been playing music with us,” Shobe said. “He has played the drums since he was very young and now, he’s playing guitar and singing. He can’t always be involved as he is also a devoted athlete.”

     Shobe has made a career of talking to people in agriculture, but he said we all need to do a better job talking to those outside of our industry. 

     “As a demographic, agricultural producers, are not necessarily ones to toot their own horns,” Shobe said. “We’re private people and humble people, but we can’t let those things keep us from telling our story. There are tremendous stories of family, legacy, hard work and real life out here.  Often the only stories the consumers are hearing are those in opposition to this lifestyle. Misinformation is widespread.  We’re starting to see a lot of changes around us. A lot of land is going out of agricultural production, which directly affects not only my livelihood, but the livelihood and vibrance of our communities. It affects a wide range of businesses. It affects real lives here locally and changes the dynamic. Big picture, it will impact the nation and world’s food supply because this land is going out of production. In my opinion, agriculture is the highest and best use of most of the land that surrounds us here in central Montana and much of the west. Private land ownership was a major factor during the birth of America. That was the intention of our forefathers, and for good reason. It’s one of the many things that makes America great. We all have to do better in promoting agriculture, and specifically livestock production, and its incredible significance not just in our economy, but in our way of life.”

     Shobe said he will continue to share a little bit of the true story of agriculture through the microphone as long as there are livestock auctions, country music, and rodeos in the American West.