If your buying just one ram, make sure its proven and is not a jaffa or you could be left without anything next year.
FYI - I just bought rams for the first time too this year. I went to a few markets and it felt really quite, well, alien. Partly because I didn't know what was being said by the auctioneer, what I was looking for or what the hell was going on. In the end my neighbour phoned and told me to look in the back of the local paper where I found an advert for private sale. It was such a nice experience going round to the farm and having a good look at their rams, having some great advise and feeling secure that he wasnt just in it for the money but also for the love of his animals. I bought 3 lleyn's for £550.
I wish you luck with the similar venture of looking for a nice boy to father your next lot.
Ta
Baz