Oh
@SageHill ... yes that is common some places... here it was called "pen hooking"... and yes, they will often sell through the sale for a profit as they know what they are worth from frequenting the stockyards... or has a buyer on the side that they can sell to and turn a profit if they buy from you outside... no commissions and all that. It is often done to "less experienced" sellers that only come to the stockyard with a few animals and come infrequently...
Therefore, it pays to keep up with what prices are doing for several weeks before you are ready to take stuff to the sale so you have an idea of what they SHOULD be worth.
Don't throw prices out to them... unless it is something totally ridiculous like $500 for a lamb that weighs 50 lbs....
Also, people like that are betting on you not having a clue to the approximate weight of the animal, so often you think they don't weigh what they actually do, so you are way undervaluing them.
That is why they aren't doing it to the people in front of you... they know the general range the lambs should bring... they are educated about the prices being paid... and they probably told him not interested... or they are regular sellers and the pen hooker knows not to bother them...
Advice... don't sell to penhookers unless it is a sick animal that you don't think will bring much and you can "hook them"....
I'm sure wanting that warm air @SageHill. Hope your lambs did well.
I raise meat animals 
My few favs just "retire" here. Mostly an old dairy one whose developed a meaningful life with me. Handful, at most.
