Tulare Sales Yard, Tulare, Calif. will host the 2019 World Livestock Auctioneer Championship (WLAC) on June 7 and 8. The event is free and open to the general public. The 56th annual WLAC will take place in conjunction with the Livestock Marketing Association (LMA) Annual Convention.
The WLAC competition is composed of two parts: an interview and a live auction. The contest features 31 contestants who qualified from three WLAC Qualifying Events and the reigning International Auctioneer Champion.
During the live sale portion, contestants sell cattle to actual bidders in the seats. The judges score each contestant based on their presentation, chant, execution of sale and how likely they would hire the auctioneer.
“The auctioneer championship showcases the importance of the local livestock markets and the role the auctioneer plays in true-price discovery,” said Kristen Parman, LMA Vice President of Membership Services.
Additionally, because the WLAC semi-finalists are competing for such an important, high-profile role, they must establish their knowledge of the livestock marketing industry and demonstrate ability to express that knowledge with clarity in an interview competition.
Contestants who qualified to compete are Chuck Bradley, Rockford, Ala.; Neil Bouray, Webber, Kan.; Colton Brantley, Modesto, Calif.; Darren Carter, Ninety Six, S.C.; Dakota Davis, Caldwell, Kan.; Eric Drees, Nampa, Idaho; Dean Edge, Rimbey, Alberta; Will Epperly, Dunlap, Iowa; Brandon Frey, Creston, Iowa; Philip Gilstrap, Pendleton, S.C.; Steve Goedert, Dillion, Mont.; Shane Hatch, Kirtland, N.M.; Jim Hertzog, Butler, Mo.; Brennin Jack, Prince Alberta, Sask; Garrett Jones, Los Banos, Calif.; Ryan Konyenbelt, Ft. Macleod, Alberta; Lynn Langvardt, Chapman, Kan.; Wade Leist, Boyne City, Mich.; Jacob Massey, Petersburg, Tenn.; Justin Mebane, Bakersfield, Calif.; Jeremy Miller, Fairland, Okla.; Daniel Mitchell, Cumberland, Ohio; Christopher Pinard, Swainsboro, Ga.; Jay Romine, Mt. Washington, Ky.; Jim Settle, Arroyo Grande, Calif.; Russele Sleep, Bedford, Iowa; Dustin Smith, Jay, Okla.; Curtis Wetovick, Fullerton, Neb.; Tim Yoder, Montezuma, Ga.; Vernon Yoder, Dundee, Ohio and Zack Zumstein, Marsing, Idaho.
The 2019 WLAC host and Tulare Sales Yard owner, David Macedo, said “We are looking forward to hosting the event this year. It’s an exciting thing to be a part of. You’re going to see thirty-one of the most confident men in the world at what they do be a little nervous, and that’s kind of fun.”
Reigning World Livestock Auctioneer Champion, Jared Miller, 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 and finalist rounds.
If you are interested in viewing the WLAC, tune into the live online stream onwww.LMAauctions.com. The interviews will be on Friday, June 7 starting at 3:00 p.m. (PST). The auctioneering competition will be at Tulare Sales Yard beginning at 8:00 am (PST) and will also be streamed live on www.LMAAuctions.com. After the event, a one-hour special, including a recap of the competition, will air on June 27 on RFD-TV.
Source: Livestock Marketing Association