Agricultural News
Oklahoma National Stockyards Getting Ready for World Livestock Auctioneer Championship
Sat, 27 Mar 2010 20:49:30 CDT
The slate of competitors is set for the 47th annual World Livestock Auctioneer Championship this summer. Thirty-three of the best livestock auctioneers in North America will head for the Oklahoma National Stockyards in Oklahoma City to compete for the top title in their profession. Five of the auctioneers that qualified call Oklahoma home.
The Stockyards is celebrating its 100th anniversary this year and President Rob Fisher says they've been getting ready for the contest for several months - with hundreds of thousands of dollars poured into refurbishing and remodeling the facilities.
Thirty-two of the contestants became eligible for the contest through four WLAC qualifying events. The final contestant is the reigning International Auctioneer Champion. On June 19th - six judges will score these semi-finalists on an interview and live auction rounds. The criteria include presentation, clarity of expression and articulation, knowledge of the industry, ability to be an industry spokesman, vocal quality and clarity of chant, bid-catching ability, execution of the sale and asking the question - would I hire this auctioneer? The top 10 scorers return for a final round of selling - with three titlists announced that evening.
The WLAC semi-finalists and their hometowns are: Bailey Ballou, Elgin, Okla.; Ted Baum, O'Neill, Neb.; Jeff Bynum, Southside, Ala.; Darren T. Carter, Ninety Six, S.C.; Tye Casey, Plymouth, Ind.; Lance Cochran, Medford, Okla.; Chuck Cozzitorto, Hilmar, Calif.; Charly Cummings, Yates Center, Kan.; Kyle Elwood, Abilene, Kan.; Will Epperly, Moneta, Va.; Dustin Focht, Stillwater, Okla.; Tom Frey, Creston, Iowa; Jim Hertzog, Butler, Mo.; Brian Little, Wann, Okla.; Brian Marlin, Inola, Okla.; Joel Martin, Williamston, S.C.; Andrew McDowell, Vandalia, Ill.; Brandon Neely, Southside, Ala.; Mike Nuss, Minatare, Neb.; Ted Odle, Brush, Colo.; Paul Ramirez; Jay Romine, Mt. Washington, Ky.; Duane Rus, Rock Valley, Iowa; Jason Santomaso, Sterling, Colo.; Kevin Schow, Paxton, Neb.; Kyle Shobe, Lewistown, Mont.; Rick Shoemaker, Kearney, Neb.; Jeff Showalter, Broadway, Va.; Russele Sleep, Bedford, Iowa; Preston Smith, Nunn, Colo.; Gabe Spikes, Bowie, Texas; and Billy Younkin, Cecil, Ala.
Mitch Barthel, New York Mills, Minn., replaces previously-named semi-finalist Nick Caspers, Wishek, N.D., who withdrew for personal reasons. Under contest rules, the next highest scoring contestant at the quarterfinal contest where Caspers qualified at Billings, Mont. will move into the semi-finals, and that was Barthel.
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