Image courtesy of Livestock Marketing Association
The first of three regional qualifying events for the 2023 World Livestock Auctioneer Championship (WLAC) will be hosted by Jackson County Regional Livestock Market, LLC in Ripley, W.Va., on October 29, 2022.
According to the Livestock Marketing Association (LMA), opening ceremonies start at 9:30 a.m. (ET), with the awards presentation following the competition. Twenty-eight contestants will compete for a top 10 placing, granting them a spot in the semi-finals for the 2023 WLAC at Arcadia Stockyard in Arcadia, Florida.
Each qualifying event is a live sale where each contestant auctions eight drafts of livestock (traditionally cattle) to actual bidders. Contestants are judged on the clarity of their auction chant; professionalism; and their ability to conduct the sale while catching bids.
Contestants from the deep Southeast competing include Marcus Kent, Dunnellon, Fl. and Chris Pinard, Swainsboro, Ga.
Other contestants for this event are Rob Bannister, Kent, N.Y.; Tyler Bradfield, Baker, W.Va.; Spencer Cline, Kingston, Ark.; Dylan Crall, Bethesda, Ohio; Dakota Davis, Waukomis, Okla.; Conner Faucette, Creedmoor, N.C.; Andrew Finlay, Topeka, Kan.; Philip Gilstrap, Pendleton, S.C.; Takoda Kiser, Wytheville, Va.; Lynn Langvardt, Chapman, Kan.; Ed Leist, Gaylord, Mich.; Jeremy Miller, Fairland, Okla.; Justin Moore, Barnesville, Ohio; Ben Morgan, Organ Cave, W.Va.; Ross Parks, New Concord, Ohio; Mason Plumly, Somerton, Ohio; Patrick Prather, Richmond, Ky.; Jack Riggs, Glenns Ferry, Idaho; Jay Romine, Mt. Washington, Ky.; Trevor Ruff, Malta, Ohio; Austin Schaben, Dunlap, Iowa; Marcus Showalter, Bridgewater, Va.; Jeff Showalter, Broadway, Va.; Shawn Silverberg, Fort Collins, Colo.; Marshal Tingle, Nicholasville, Ky.; and Scott Twardowski, Swanville, Minn.
The livestock auction and competition will be streamed live on the LMA Facebook page.
The second qualifying event will be held at Longview Livestock in Longview, Texas, on December 1, 2022. The final qualifying event will be held at Windsor Livestock Auction Co., Inc. in Windsor, Mo., on January 4, 2023.