LMA makes major changes to World Auctioneer Championship contes

Livestock Marketing Association is announcing a major change in the format of its annual World Championship Auctioneer Championship, aimed at bringing more contestants into the "granddaddy" of auctioneer contests.

Beginning this fall, there will be four regional auctioneer competitions. Three champions from each region will be named, and the top eight scorers in each region will advance to the semi-finals of the 2007 WLAC.

The four regional competitions will be held between October 2006 and February 2007 with dates to be announced. The host markets will be: Wythe County Livestock Exchange, Wytheville, Va.; Ogallala Livestock Auction Market, Ogallala, Neb.; Sulphur Springs Livestock and Dairy Auction, Sulphur Springs, Texas; Central Oregon Livestock Auction, Madras, Ore.

The host markets are located, respectively, in LMA's eastern, Midwestern, southwestern and western regions.

"All over America, livestock markets are providing true price discovery every day for thousands of livestock producers," LMA president Jim Santomaso said. "We want to turn the spotlight on their vital role within the industry and also on the continuing role livestock auctioneers play in that process."

Santomaso said there were other reasons LMA expanded WLAC, which in 2007 will be in it's 44th year.

"Over the years we've heard from many talented auctioneers who've wanted to participate, but for one reason or another, couldn't under the old format. This new regional design has been built to encourage contestants to compete in their home region, or if need be, they can compete in one of the other regionals.

"We think this will encourage more auctioneers to enter, and possibly move on to the premier annual livestock auction contest, the WLAC," he said.

Regional champions will be given a cash award and a custom made championship belt buckle. The reserve and runner-up champions in each region will also receive custom belt buckles.

At each of the competitions, a panel of three judges will score each contestant on the criteria used in the June WLAC: vocal clarity and quality; bid-catching talent; ability to keep the sale moving; and answering the question, "would I hire this auctioneer to work for me?"

Regional contestants will sell eight to 10 different drafts of cattle in a single round of competition. Entry fee in the regional contest is $100.

As has become tradition at the WLAC, the reigning Canadian International Livestock Auctioneer Champion will be offered a bye into the WLAC semi-finals.

The 2007 WLAC will be June 16, 2007 at the Springfield Livestock Marketing Center, Springfield, Mo.

Complete entry and contest rules will be available soon from LMA and online at www.lmaweb.com. For further information call 800-821-2048.

Date: 8/24/06

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