(31 Dec 2014) VOICE-OVER:
LIKE THE PIED PIPER..A HYMNAL CHANT OF THE TOBACCO AUCTIONEER GUIDES WOULD-BE BUYERS THROUGHOUT THE WAREHOUSE...
(NATS OF FOY CHANTING)
SOUNDBITE (English) Tripp Foy, Tobacco Auctioneer:
"The auction itself is about keeping everybody's interest and keeping a rhythm up. We get in a rhythm on a good sale, and it's just like singing a song."
THESE ARE THE SOUNDS OF CENTRAL KENTUCKY'S TOBACCO BUSINESS...A PROCESSION OF BUYERS TOUCHING AND HANDLING BALES OF THE CROP AS FOY, AN AUCTIONEER VETERAN OF FOUR DECADES, CALLS OUT THE PRICES.
SOUNDBITE (English) Jerry Rankin, Operator of Danville tobacco warehouse:
"You see them out there with all their fingers out, that means a dollar twenty-five or a dollar thirty five or fifteen, whatever the auctioneer's saying."
FOY LEADING THE DELICATE DANCE AT THE START OF THIS SEASON'S SALES
SOUNDBITE (English) Tripp Foy, Tobacco Auctioneer:
"When you got six, eight, ten people participating, and everybody's a professional at the top of their game, you can walk down the row and almost dance to the tune of the sale."
BUT THIS TRADITION IS QUICKLY FADING AWAY AS MOST OF THE STATE'S BURLEY TOBACCO IS SOLD UNDER CONTRACTS BETWEEN FARMERS AND BIG COMPANIES....CUTTING OUT THE WAREHOUSE OPERATORS COMPLETELY.
AND AN EXCESS OF CROP COMBINED WITH LOWER DEMAND IS DRIVING BURLEY PRICES DOWN...LEAVING AUCTIONEERS LIKE FOY STRUGGLING.
SOUNDBITE (English) Tripp Foy, Tobacco Auctioneer:
"Forty years ago, tobacco was a mainstay of all your small farmers, to get actual cash money in their pocket. And it was a way of life, and it's sad that its gone away but times change."
DESPITE SETBACKS, DEVOTED AUCTIONEERS LIKE FOY HAVE HUNG ON...SUPPORTERS SAY THEY PROVIDE AN ALTERNATIVE FOR FARMERS UNABLE OR UNWILLING TO SIGN CONTRACTS FOR LESS THAN DESIRABLE PRICES.
SOUNDBITE (English) Tripp Foy, Tobacco Auctioneer:
"It makes me thank god every day that I've been tough enough to hold out."
HOLDING OUT FOR ANOTHER DAY, AS THE FAMILIAR SONG WINDS DOWN.
EMILY ROSEMAN/Associated Press
Find out more about AP Archive: [ Ссылка ]
Twitter: [ Ссылка ]
Facebook: [ Ссылка ]
Instagram: [ Ссылка ]
You can license this story through AP Archive: [ Ссылка ]
