It’s been a busy few weeks of qualifiers for the upcoming 2013 WLAC! Competition has been tough, but 31 auctioneers have now earned their place in the semi-final round at the World Livestock Auctioneer Championship in Montgomery, Ala., next June.

Montgomery Stockyards will host the 50^th anniversary championship, and preparations have long been underway for this year’s events.  These semi-finalists are going to take part in a memorable celebration of the WLAC, regardless of who is crowned 2013 World Livestock Auctioneer Champion!

As we’ve traveled the country to put on this year’s qualifying events, we’ve been hosted by three exceptional market owners and their staff.

The first qualifier was held Sept. 15^th at Mid-America Stockyards in Bristow, Oklahoma. Four generations of the Varner family welcomed everyone that came through the door with their warm Oklahoma-style hospitality. Don’t miss a chance to stop by on sale day and eat at the family-run café! Not to mention they run an exceptional market.

Blaine Lotz of Edna, Kansas, took home top honors in Bristow. Ashley Noland of Amarillo, Texas was the Reserve Champion of the day, followed by Runner-up Champion Tracy Sullivan from Prague, Oklahoma.

L to R – Helen Varner, Ashley Noland, Blaine Lotz, Tracy Sullivan, Jerry Varner

The next stop in our qualifying tour was on Sept. 24th at Southeast Mississippi Livestock in Hattiesburg, Mississippi, home to one of the largest sale rings we’ve ever seen! Joe Johnson and his crew brought us an excellent sale and amazing traditional southern cuisine. The hard-working crew was exceptionally helpful and we had a great time in Hattiesburg.

Brian Little from Wann, Oklahoma, was named Champion for this event. Placing second was Brandon Neely of Berkeley Springs, West Virginia. Third place went to Brian Curless of Pittsfield, Illinois.

L to R – Brian Curless, Brian Little, Brandon Neely

On Monday, Oct. 29^th, our final round of qualifying competition was held at Stockland Livestock Auction in Davenport, Washington. Beautiful country and gracious people made this a great trip. The McGuinness family, Jack, Kale & Katie, were wonderful hosts and we enjoyed being a part of their sale day.

Dustin Focht, Stillwater, Oklahoma won the Davenport qualifier.  Reserve Champion for the day was Jeff Bynum, Southside, Alabama. Runner-up Champion for the event was Paul Ramirez, Tucson, Arizona.

L to R – Dustin Focht, Paul Ramirez, Jeff Bynum

At each qualifying event, the Champion of the qualifier takes home a custom-designed Gist belt buckle and a $500 cash award, sponsored by Livestock Marketing Association. The host market at each event awards an additional $500. The Reserve and Runner-up Champions at each event also receive custom Gist belt buckles from LMA.

The additional Top Ten contestants from each qualifier, now moving on to the semi-final round in Montgomery, are:

Darren Carter, Ninety Six, S.C.; Tye Casey, Plymouth, Ind.; Jake Cheechov, Creswell, Ore.; Chuck Cozzitorto, Hilmar, Calif.;  Will Epperly, Lancaster, Ky.; Philip Gilstrap, Pendleton, S.C.; Mike Godberson, Pawnee, Okla.; Jim Hertzog, Butler, Mo.; Garrett Jones, Los Banos, Calif.; Mark Lipscomb, Como, Miss.;  Andrew McDowell, Vandalia, Ill.; Justin Mebane, Bakersfield, Calif.; Daniel Mitchell, Cumberland, Ohio;  Jay Romine, Mt. Washington, Ky.; Duane Rus, Rock Valley, Iowa; Jason Santomaso, Sterling, Colo.; Daren Shumway, Mesa, Ariz.; Russle Sleep, Bedford, Iowa; Preston Smith, Dodge City, Kan., Robb Taylor, Perkins, Okla.; and Billy Younkin, Cecil, Ala.

Also qualified for the 2013 WLAC is International Livestock Auctioneer Champion Brennin Jack from Weyburn, Sasketchewan, who won this year’s competition in Calgary, Alberta, Canada.

Can’t wait to see the competition in Montgomery! I hope many of you will make plans to join us on June 14-15, but if you can’t travel, be sure to mark your calendars and log onto www.LMAAuctions.com to watch the competition LIVE.

Lots more information about the WLAC, schedules, etc. can be found at www.LMAWeb.com.  Check it out!

Don’t miss round one as we begin the search for the next World Livestock Auctioneer Champion! The competition for a spot in the 2013 WLAC in Montgomery, Ala. will begin this Saturday, Sept. 15, at Mid America Stockyards in Bristow, Okla. Opening ceremonies will begin at 9:00 a.m. (CT), and you can catch all of the action LIVE at http://www.LMAAuctions.com.

Twenty-one of the best auctioneers in the country have thrown their hats in the ring for this first chance to compete for the title of 2013 WLAC Champ. Don’t miss it!

Champ’s Welcome

If you don’t like having your name in bright lights something is wrong!!  I was delighted to see this sign very first as I arrived in Dunlap, IA.  The Schaben Family and the entire Dunlap community made me feel completely welcome. I was in Dunlap to help the Schaben family and all the folks at Dunlap Livestock Auction celebrate their 62nd anniversary!  Wow, 62 years of business and one family, what an accomplishment, congratulations DLA!! They celebrate annually with a special anniversary sale and a customer appreciation BBQ.  There was a great crowd on hand, lots of buyers, consignors, locals and just plain, ole’ hungry people! DLA offered nearly 6,000 head of cattle at the Aug 3rd sale. Wow, what a great day in Dunlap!  Thanks to Jay, Jim JR., and Jon Schaben for allowing me the opportunity to work for their market. I truly enjoyed myself. 

FIRST SAY TO YOURSELF WHAT YOU WOULD BE AND THEN DO WHAT YOU HAVE TO DO.  ~  EPICTETUS

In the spring of 2003 I decided to go to auction school and I began to research which school I would like to attend.  I had previously found the Livestock Marketing Association’s website and had begun listening to the past champions (quite religiously I might add).  I then set that as my goal, to become a World Champion Livestock Auctioneer!  In June of 2003, Jon Schaben won the WLAC, when I found out he was an instructor at the Missouri Auction School my decision was made to attend!  In Nov of ’03, I attended The Missouri Auction School and trained under my newfound hero Jon Schaben, he did not disappoint! He took a group of students to Greenville Livestock Auction (Andrew McDowell was and is still to this day their house auctioneer) in Greenville, IL, where I had the opportunity to sell cattle for the very first time, and I WAS HOOKED!! Making the trip to Dunlap to work with World Champion Jon Schaben as a World Champion myself is TRULY a DREAM COME TRUE!   Thanks Jon!

Wednesday, August 15 Deadline for First 2013 WLAC Qualifier

Tomorrow is the deadline to enter for the first Qualifier for the 2013 WLAC!

This event will be held on September 15th, 2012 at Mid America Stockyards in Bristow, Okla. You can still enter online at www.LMAweb.com. Entries and $100 entry fee must be received by Wednesday, August 15, 4:00 p.m. (CT).

Two additional Qualifiers will be held.  Southeast Mississippi Livestock in  Hattiesburg, Miss. will host a Qualifier on September 24.  The entry deadline for this Qualifier is Monday,  August 22, 4:00 p.m. (CT).

The final qualifying opportunity will be at Stockland Livestock  Auction in Davenport, Wash., on Monday, October 29.  Entry deadline is Wednesday, September 26,  4:00 p.m. (CT).

The 2013 WLAC will be hosted by Montgomery  Stock Yards in Montgomery, Ala., on  June 12-15, and promises to be both competitive and a great time!

Take time to send in your entries, today!

 

 

2012 WLAC BUCKLE

I WAS NEVER AFRAID OF FAILURE, FOR I WOULD RATHER FAIL THAN NOT BE AMONG THE BEST  ~  JOHN KEATS

Just a reminder that the August 11th deadline for the Bristow Qualifier for the 50th Anniversary World Livestock Auctioneer Championship held in Montgomery, AL is rapidly approaching, and I want to encourage everyone to enter and ATTEND! Being held on a Saturday and centrally located, this qualifier should be packed with talent, new and veteran alike. I do not know about you, but I love a good challenge. In 2006, after having only auctioneered cattle for about one year, I sent in a video to qualify for the WLAC and placed 2nd! I then headed to Escalon, CA where I got my tail kicked! The next year the format was changed to regional qualifiers, and I went to Sulphur Springs, TX to qualify. And again, I got my tail kicked, didn’t even qualify for the 2007 WLAC. In October of 2007, I qualified in Dalhart, TX (4th place) for the 2008 WLAC, and traveled to Sioux Falls, SD where I was bested again. I skipped the 2009 WLAC, and in December of ’09 I competed in the Parsons, KS Qualifier, where I was named Reserve Champion and claimed my spot in the 2010 WLAC in OKC, OK. I had my best finish to date in Oklahoma making the finals and finishing 8th overall. I again skipped the WLAC in 2011 before competing at the Groesbeck, TX Qualifier where I was again named Reserve Champion. In 2012, I made the trip back to California and returned home as the WORLD LIVESTOCK AUCTIONEER CHAMPION!! I did not win the rookie award, never won a qualifier, and all in all was probably beaten by more guys than I beat, but I never avoided any competitor! The best make us better, CHALLENGE YOURSELF!