294: Small Town Colorado to World Champion Auctioneer: Inside John Korrey’s Career and Legacy

This episode marks the kickoff of our King of the Ring episodes, and Lauren is joined by World Champion auctioneer John Korrey to start it off. From growing up in northeastern Colorado to becoming a World Livestock Auctioneer Champion and traveling the globe, John shares the story behind his career, the evolution of the auction industry, and the role auction markets still play in cattle country today. This conversation goes deeper than just auctioneering—it’s about legacy, relationships, faith, and giving back. John also shares powerful advice for the next generation and what it truly takes to succeed in this business. This is a real and honest look at a life built in the auction industry and the impact one person can have along the way.LinksKing of the Ring - https://www.korauction.com/?utm_source=ig&utm_medium=social&utm_content=link_in_bio John Korrey - http://www.korreyauctions.com/John%20Korrey%20BIO.htm CattleUSA Insurance - https://info.cattleusainsurance.com/l/1102253/2025-06-04/288f5m⁠CattleUSA Website - https://www.cattleusa.com/Facebook - https://www.facebook.com/cattleusamediaInstagram - https://www.instagram.com/cattleusa.media/Subscribe to our newsletter - https://www.cattleusadrive.com/premiumCattleUSA Media - https://www.cattleusamedia.com/Lauren’s Instagram - https://www.instagram.com/_laurenmoylan/Lauren’s Youtube - https://www.youtube.com/@ShowboatmediacoThe Next Generation Podcast Website - https://www.thenextgenag.com/ Key Takeaways- - John Korrey’s journey from small-town Colorado to World Champion auctioneer- How auctioneering has evolved from local markets to global and online platforms- Why auction markets still play a critical role in price discovery and community- The importance of relationships, trust, and reputation in the livestock industry- How the internet has changed auctions—but hasn’t replaced the auctioneer- The discipline and persistence it takes to succeed in auctioneering- Why contests like King of the Ring help develop and strengthen the industry- Advice for young auctioneers entering the profession today- The importance of giving back through charity and community involvement- Building a legacy rooted in faith, family, and serviceChapters 00:00 – Intro + King of the Ring series kickoff02:00 – John Korrey’s background and how he got started05:30 – Early career and learning the craft of auctioneering08:30 – How the auction industry has changed over time12:00 – The role of auction markets in today’s cattle industry15:30 – Internet auctions vs live auctions18:30 – Traveling the world as an auctioneer22:30 – Competing and winning the World Championship25:30 – Advice for the next generation of auctioneers29:30 – Lessons learned and career reflections32:30 – Legacy, faith, and giving back35:30 – King of the Ring preview + closing thoughtsauctioneer, livestock auctioneer, cattle auction, cattle markets, auction industry, King of the Ring, World Champion auctioneer, John Korrey, livestock marketing, sale barn, cattle industry podcast, agriculture podcast, ranching community, livestock sales, auction chant, price discovery cattle, beef industry, livestock markets USA, auctioneering career, ag leadership, rural America, cattle producers