Father's inspiration, winning LMA's Texhoma contest put Kansan Lynn Langvardt on his way to 2009 WLAC

Inspired by his father, who competed four times in the World Livestock Auctioneer Championship, Kansan Lynn Langvardt is on his way to the 2009 WLAC.

Langvardt, of Wakefield, won Livestock Marketing Association's second quarterfinal qualifying contest for next summer's world championship, in competition at Texhoma, Okla., Oct. 29, at the Texhoma Livestock Auction, LLC.

Reserve champion was Charly Cummings, Yates Center, Kan., and the runner-up champion, in a field of 22 contestants, was Billy Younkin, Cecil, Ala.

The three winners, along with the next five highest-scoring contestants, move on to the June 13 WLAC, to be held at Fergus Falls Livestock Auction Market, Inc., Fergus Falls, Minn. It will be the 46th annual world championship contest.

Those five at Texhoma were, in alphabetical order, Shannon Davis, Yantis, Texas; Kevin Magby, Atoka, Okla.; Tanner Ragan, Sulphur Springs, Texas; Don Rodgers, Bakersfield, Calif., and Gabe Spikes, Bowie, Texas.

"I learned auctioneering from my father," Langvardt said, who first stepped into the auction block at his family's Junction City, Kan., market "at about the age of 7. I started selling baby calves, then weigh-up cattle."

He had a good teacher in his father, Howard, who competed four times in the WLAC during the 1980s and 90s, finishing among the finalists once.

The competition at Texhoma was very strong, Lynn Langvardt, 35, said. "There are a lot of new, young, talented auctioneers coming along."

This was the fifth time he has entered the WLAC, finishing among the top 10 finalists once. In 2004, he won LMA's "Rookie of the Year" title, given to the highest-scoring first-time entrant.

He was sponsored by two family-owned markets, Clay Center Livestock Sales, Inc., Clay Center, Kan., and J.C. Livestock Sales, Inc., Junction City, Kan., along with LaCrosse Livestock Market, LaCrosse, Kan.

Reserve Champion Cummings, last year's "Rookie of the Year" winner, said his second time in the contest "wasn't any easier, because the nerves are still there."

But, he said, "This year was more enjoyable, because you know more people, and I enjoy visiting with the other auctioneers." Asked about his expectations at the Texhoma contest, Cummings, 29, said "I just hoped to be in the top eight. When they announced me as the reserve champion, I was very honored."

He was sponsored by Anderson County Livestock Sales Co., Garnett, Kan.; Allen County Livestock Auction, Gas, Kan., and Fort Scott Livestock Market, Inc., Fort Scott, Kan.

Runner-up champion Younkin, 37, also said he was "very honored" to have won third place, "given the quality of the competition that was there." A graduate of the Missouri Auction School, he has been an auctioneer for 15 years.

This is his third year in the contest. He competed in the 2007 WLAC when he was named reserve champion in a qualifying contest in Wytheville, Va.

The WLAC winner spends a good part of his year as champion appearing for LMA at markets and other events around the country. Younkin said, "I'd be willing to represent our industry any way I can."

He was sponsored by Mid State Stockyards, LLP, Letohatchee, Ala.

The first qualifying quarterfinal contest was Sept. 9 in Miles City, Mont., where the winner was Ty Thompson, Billings, Mont. The remaining qualifying contests are Nov. 18 at Muskingum Livestock Auction Co., Zanesville, Ohio, and Dec. 2 at Kingsville Livestock Auction, Kingsville, Mo.

A cash award and a custom-made belt buckle goes to the winner in each quarterfinal competition. The reserve and runner-up champions in each contest also receive custom belt buckles.

The eight qualifiers from each quarterfinal contest, along with the reigning International Auctioneer Champion - Peter Raffan, Armstrong, B.C. - make up the field for the 2009 WLAC.

Three titlists will be selected, and the winners take home thousands of dollars in cash and prizes.

LMA conducts the WLAC and the qualifying contests to put the focus on competitive livestock marketing, and the continuing vital role of the auctioneer in that process.

12/15/08
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Date: 12/8/08

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