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Eight livestock auctioneers competing at Kingsville, Mo., market Dec. 2, will move on to World Championship contest next JuneFor eight professional livestock auctioneers, the contest here Dec. 2 will be their ticket to the "Super Bowl" of their profession--the 2009 World Livestock Auctioneer Championship. The Kingsville Livestock Auction is hosting 18 contestants in the last quarterfinal qualifying contest for the 2009 WLAC. The world championship will be held June 13 at the Fergus Falls Livestock Auction Market, Fergus Falls, Minn. Three winners--champion, reserve and runner-up champions--will be named after the Kingsville contest. These three, and the next five highest scorers then qualify for the Minnesota WLAC. The WLAC--and 2009 will be the 46th annual--was created and is conducted by Livestock Marketing Association, the national trade association for progressive marketing businesses like Kingsville Livestock. Sale time is 10:30 a.m. Each contest is an actual sale, with buyers on the seats, and market owner Rick Anstine said, "We're expecting 2,500 head of top-quality calves, from customers within a one-hundred mile radius of the market." There will be source and age-verified calves, he said, "and a good run of stock cows and cow-calf pairs." The market is not only hosting a qualifying contest for the WLAC Dec. 2--it will also be a "customer appreciation day," Anstine said, with a free lunch that will be served beginning at 10 a.m. The Kingsville contestants, followed by their hometowns, are Chris Arnaman, Cameron, Mo.; Ted Baum, O'Neill, Neb.; Nick Caspers, Hecla, S.D.; Jake Cheechov, Eugene, Ore.; John Cline, Onaga, Kan.; Justin Dodson, Welch, Okla.; Dustin Focht, Stillwater, Okla.; Larry Gilmore, Belle Plaine, Kan.; Jim Hertzog, Greenwood, Mo.; Kent Korte, Metropolis, Ill.; Andrew McDowell, Vandalia, Ill.; Ted Odle, Brush, Colo.; Lonnie Peterson, Fulton, Mo.; Jay Romine, Mt. Washington, Ky.; Duane Rus, Rock Valley, Iowa; Preston Smith, Lexington, Neb.; Garren Walrod, Randolph, Kan., and Jerry Welschmeyer, Vienna, Mo. Eight contestants from the three previous qualifying contests are also going to the June WLAC. These contests were held earlier this year in Miles City, Mont., and Texhoma, Okla., with one scheduled for Nov. 18 in Zanesville, Ohio. This is the third year LMA has used the quarterfinal format to qualify contestants for the June Championship. The new format, LMA President Bobby Smith said, "allows more auctioneers to enter the contest, and it also highlights the outstanding job markets all over the country do to promote a competitive livestock economy." Contestants must be at least 18 years old, and employed and sponsored by a livestock market. Each contest is an actual sale, with buyers on the seats. The master of ceremonies at each quarterfinal is Matt Lowery, Burwell, Neb., the reigning world champion. He won the title June 28 in Worthing, S.D. Contest judges are market owners/operators and professional livestock dealers. Contestants are judged on vocal clarity and quality, talent at keeping the sale moving and bid-catching ability. The judges also ask the question, "Would I hire this auctioneer?" The champion in each WLAC qualifying contest will receive a cash award and a custom-made belt buckle. The reserve and runner-up champion in each contest will also receive custom belt buckles. The three titlists in the June WLAC--world champion, reserve and runner-up world champion--will receive thousands of dollars in cash and prizes. The Kingsville market is about 35 miles southeast of Kansas City, on Missouri Highway 58, one-half mile east of Kingsville. The contest will also be broadcast live on the Internet, at www.lmaauctions.com. 11/10/08 Date: 11/5/08 Advertisement
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