WLAC News

2019 WORLD LIVESTOCK AUCTIONEER CHAMPIONSHIP TO BE HOSTED IN CALIFORNIA

KANSAS CITY, MO. – Tulare Sales Yard, Tulare, Calif. will host the 2019 World Livestock Auctioneer Championship (WLAC) on June 7 & 8. The event is free & open to the general public. The 56th annual WLAC will take place in conjunction with the Livestock Marketing Association’s (LMA) Annual Convention.

A total of 31 semi-finalist auctioneers will compete in the contest comprised of an auctioneering & interview portion. The auctioneering contest will take place during a live sale, where contestants will sell cattle to actual bidders in the seats. Additionally, because of the important, high-profile role, each WLAC semi-finalist must establish their knowledge of the livestock marketing industry & demonstrate ability to express that knowledge with clarity, in an interview competition.

Contestants who qualified to compete are Russele Sleep, Bedford, Iowa; Dean Edge, Rimbey, Alberta; Vernon Yoder, Dundee, Ohio; Jim Hertzog, Butler, Mo.; Will Epperly, Dunlap, Iowa; Dustin Smith, Jay, Okla.; Neil Bouray, Webber, Kan.; Chuck Bradley, Rockford, Ala.; Curtis Wetovick, Fullerton, Neb.; Dakota Davis, Caldwell, Kan.; Daniel Mitchell, Cumberl&, Ohio; Jay Romine, Mt. Washington, Ky.; Philip Gilstrap, Pendleton, S.C.; Christopher Pinard, Swainsboro, Ga.; Wade Leist, Boyne City, Mich.; Tim Yoder, Montezuma, Ga.; Darren Carter, Ninety Six, S.C.; Jeremy Miller, Fairl&, Okla.; Jacob Massey, Petersburg, Tenn.; Jim Settle, Arroyo Gr&e, Calif.; Lynn Langvardt, Chapman, Kan.; Justin Mebane, Bakersfield, Calif.; Eric Drees, Nampa, Idaho; Colton Brantley, Modesto, Calif.; Br&on Frey, Creston, Iowa; Steve Goedert, Dillion, Mont.; Shane Hatch, Kirtl&, N.M.; Brennin Jack, Prince Alberta, Sask; Garrett Jones, Los Banos, Calif.; Zack Zumstein, Marsing, Idaho; & Ryan Konyenbelt, Ft. Macleod, Alberta.

Reigning World Livestock Auctioneer Champion, Jared Miller, (pictured right) will be in attendance, along with many other past World Livestock Auctioneer Champions. Each will sell cattle during the Parade of Champions, a portion of the WLAC sale between the semi-finalist & finalist rounds. If you are interested in viewing the WLAC, tune into the live online stream.

• The interviews will be on Friday, June 7 & can be viewed live on www.LMAauctions.com starting at 3:00 p.m. (PST).

• The auctioneering competition will be at Tulare Sales Yard beginning at 8:00 am (PST) & will also be streamed live on www.LMAAuctions.com.

• After the event, the WLAC will be broadcast as a special, one-hour show on RFD-TV.

For More Information Visit: www.LMAWEB.COM

ABOUT THE WORLD LIVESTOCK AUCTIONEER CHAMPIONSHIP: In June 1963, the Livestock Marketing Association held the first annual World Livestock Auctioneer Championship (WLAC) at the Cosmopolitan Hotel in Denver, Colorado. The purpose: to spotlight North America’s top livestock auctioneers & to salute their traditionally important role in the competitive livestock marketing process. That year, 23 auctioneers from the United States & Canada sold the same 20 head of cattle over & over again. The contest was held at hotels until 1967, when it traveled to its first LMA member market. Since then the WLAC has been held in conjunction with the LMA Marketing Industry Convention at member markets around the U.S. & Canada. Recent locations include California, Missouri, Montana, Tennessee, Kansas, South Dakota & Alberta, Canada.

Though the rules have changed, the enthusiasm for the competition hasn’t. On average each year, nearly 100 auctioneers enter the qualifying events & only 31 (10 from each qualifying event, one from the auctioneering competition at Calgary Stampede) are selected to compete in the WLAC. The championship consists of three stages: the regional qualifying events held at different markets around the country, followed by the semi-finals & the finals that are held each June in conjunction with the LMA Annual Convention. Contestants competing for the World Champion title must be 18 years old, employed as a livestock auctioneer & sponsored by a local auction market that shares in the favorable publicity generated by the winners. LMA is proud to sponsor an event that brings together North America’s top livestock auctioneers in a competition that showcases professionalism & promotes the auction method of selling livestock.

ABOUT THE LIVESTOCK MARKETING ASSOCIATION: The Livestock Marketing Association, headquartered in Kansas City, Missouri, is North America’s largest membership organization dedicated to supporting, representing & communicating with & for the entire livestock marketing sector. LMA has more than 800 member businesses across the U.S. & Canada.