Nunn chases lifelong auctioneering dream

Garrett Nunn grew up on a cow/calf operation west of Laramie where his family raises high-elevation, Black Angus cattle. 

“At a young age, I loved to attended the Reyes/Russell Bull Sale and watch Lex Madden work his magic from the block,” Garrett stated.

When Garrett was five years old, he told his mother he needed a white “cowboy shirt” and tie so he could look like Madden, and from then on, he knew he wanted to raise bulls and be an auctioneer. 

He expressed, “Juan Reyes, Madden and John Korrey are three of my biggest mentors, and after my flame was lit for auctioneering, I purchased Korrey’s video ‘Chant of a Champion’ and spent countless hours practicing while driving the swather.”

Garrett participated in his first auction at the age of 18 at the Laramie High School Rodeo Club’s annual fundraiser dinner. 

Getting a start in the industry 

Throughout grade school, Garrett was active in 4-H and FFA, raising market beef and competing in the Supreme Cow Program at the Albany County Fair where he had great success. This is how he started building his cow herd. 

Garrett also competed in 4-H shooting sports and was a three-time reserve world champion in the light rifle competition at the National High School Rodeo Finals from 2016-18. He was also part of the 2017 Ag Mechanics State Championship FFA Team and was able to compete at the National FFA Convention in Indianapolis in 2018. 

After graduating from Laramie High School with a 4.0 grade point average, Garrett attended college at the University of Wyoming (UW) on a rodeo and several academic scholarships. 

Garrett earned his bachelor’s degree in ag business with a minor in animal science, and during his time at UW, he thoroughly enjoyed competing as a student athlete on the UW Rodeo Team for four years in team roping and tie-down roping. 

Garrett also made the Dean’s List or President’s List every semester. 

“While I was in high school, I started hosting an annual bull sale, selling high-elevation Angus and Sim-Angus bulls,” he shared. “As a result, I have grown my registered cow herd, and just this past year, my brother Colter and I bought out a registered Angus herd.”

This year, the brothers will host their first sale, offering bulls from this new set of cows. The sale will be held April 2 at Red Mountain Ranch in Laramie.

Current operations, future plans

Garrett’s future goals are to continue building his registered cow herd while continuing to promote his bull sale. He plans to continue working on the family ranch with his brother, and keep chasing his dream of being a world champion auctioneer. 

Garrett explained, in September he starsted working at Torrington Livestock Markets where he has the opportunity to auctioneer and learn how to sort cattle in different sale groups. 

“I am so appreciative of all of the opportunities Madden, Chuck Peterson, Lander Nicodemus and Michael Schmitt have given me at Torrington Livestock Markets,” Garrett said. 

“While working at Torrington, I have made a lot of great friends with talented auctioneers, including Korrey and Mike Nuss,” he added. “I enjoy learning something every day about the livestock market at the sale barn.” 

Additionally, Garrett started guiding antelope, deer, elk and mountain lion hunters on the family ranch when he was 18 years old.

“I really enjoy taking hunters out on the ranch, and letting them experience what I get to live every day,” he stated. “I have been able to meet great people from around the country.”

Recently, Garrett competed in the Black Hills Stock Show (BHSS) and Rodeo auctioneering contest in Rapid City, S.D. and was crowned the 2024 BHSS and Rodeo Champion Auctioneer. 

He has also competed in the Mile High Auctioneering Championship at the National Western Stock Show the past two years and has enjoyed interacting with high-caliber auctioneers from all over the country. 

A tribute to agriculture

“Agriculture has molded me into a person who admires hard work, integrity, honesty and accountability. It also has allowed me to meet so many great people,” Garrett expressed. “Agriculture has taught me to be humble and that there is always something new to learn.”

Garrett shared he believes the future of agriculture is dependent on this generation and urges agricultural producers to continue educating the general public about ag products and why producers do what they do. 

“People need to know agriculture is a very real part of their life, whether they know it or not. People will benefit by supporting what we do every day,” he emphasized.

Garrett concluded, “People are often misinformed or just haven’t had the chance to learn about the ag industry, so I feel it is our job to help educate others about the ag industry when the opportunity presents itself.”

Melissa Anderson is the editor of the Wyoming Livestock Roundup. Send comments on this article to roundup@wylr.net.