Erinn Finley
Contributing Writer
efinley1@murraystate.edu
The Murray State journalism department attracts a wide range of students. Junior agricultural communications major Luke Wood and sophomore organizational communications major Ocean Ballard talked with The News about their hobbies outside of class.
Wood said he plans to apprentice with an auctioneer after he earns his bachelor’s degree. Over the summer, he attended the Worldwide College of Auctioneering, an eight-day program that lasted 12 hours each day.
Wood says his major helps him improve his communication skills, which ties into auctioneering. He also said the program helped him develop connections within the world of auctioneering.
“My experience at auctioneer school is one of those things that I will never take for granted,” Wood said. “We made friends that were like family. Those long days and even longer nights will always mean something to me. It was one of the best things I’ve done in my life.”
The process for obtaining an auctioneer license involves applying then apprenticing with a licensed auctioneer for two years and then testing.
Wood chose this career, in part, because of his grandfather.
“My grandfather died of COVID in 2020 and he always wanted me to try the school and look into the field,” Wood said. “I decided to honor his wish and look into it and I can say I truly fell in love with the profession.”
Wood said the most interesting thing he discovered in the industry was that everyone wants to see you be great. He said they want to help you succeed and achieve what is best for you.
Wood said that if someone is thinking about going to auctioneer school, it isn’t a choice a person will regret.
“Never be afraid to reach out and make connections because you never know where they can take you and that goes for any field,” Wood said. “I know it sounds generic, but you should go find out for yourself.”
Ballard is also making her home at Murray State. She transferred from Miami University in Oxford, Ohio, to Murray State because Miami University lacked a rodeo team.
Ballard said she has been riding horseback since before she could walk.
“My family has always rode and competed so I started out very early,” Ballard said.
Barrel racing and pole bending are part of her family’s tradition. Her dad competed in barrel racing and pole bending, as did her cousins.
Ballard competes in barrel racing, stake racing and pole bending. She is fairly new to the rodeo scene, but says she has been going to barrel races and American Quarter Horse Association shows for many years.
Barrel racing consists of running a horse in a clover-leaf pattern around three barrels. Pole bending involves running a weaving pattern through a straight line of poles. A stake race involves running around two poles in a figure-eight pattern. All three events are timed events.
She made it to the American Quarter Horse Association Youth World Show in Oklahoma in 2019, getting to the finals in stake racing and pole bending.
Ballard also qualified for finals in the National Barrel Horse Association Youth World Shows.
Ballard owns a six-year-old quarter horse, named Rockin’ H. King, nicknamed “Boujee.” She bought him as a two-year-old and said she trained him herself.
“I would just like to thank the entire team for being so welcoming and friendly,” Ballard said. “I can’t wait for the college rodeo to start up.”
The Murray State rodeo team’s first rodeo will be at Missouri Valley College in Marshall, Missouri from Sept. 23 to Sept. 25.
The rodeo team is selling banners to hang up in the home rodeo to help with travel expenses. Anyone interested in buying a banner can email Ballard at oceanballard@icloud.com.