The final of the three regional qualifying events for the World Livestock Auctioneer Championship (WLAC) will be hosted by Tri-State Livestock Market in Abingdon, Va., on Jan. 7.
Opening ceremonies will commence at 9 a.m. (ET), with the awards presentation following the competition. A total of 30 contestants will compete for a top 10 placing, granting them a spot in the semi-finals for the 2022 WLAC at Shipshewana Auction, Inc. in Shipshewana, Ind.
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 competing are Mitch Barthel, New York Mills, Minn.; Andy Baumeister, Goldthwaite, Texas; Tyler Bell, Anderson, Texas; Troy Bradshaw, Lipan, Texas; Spencer Cline, Kingston, Ark.; Button Edwards, Ocala, Fla.; Quest Flesner, Hannibal, Mo.; Philip Gilstrap, Pendleton, S.C.; Cody Hanold, Brighton Ill.; Brad Hess, Buford, Ohio; Michael Imbrogno, Turlock, Calif.; Marcus Kent, Dunnellon, Fla.; Jonathan Kraft, Valparaiso, Ind.; Wade Leist, Boyne City, Mich.; Brad Martens, Gibbons, Alberta, Canada; Jacob Massey, Petersburg, Tenn.; Mark Mast, Laurel, Mont.; Jeremy Miller, Fairland, Okla.; Danial Mitchell, Cumberland, Ohio; Terry Moe, Watford City, N.D.; Ben Morgan, Organ Cave, W.V.; Mark Oberholtzer, Loyal, Wis.; Ross Parks, New Concord, Ohio; Patrick Prather, Richmond, Ky.; Andrew Reeleder, Bentley, Alberta, Canada; Grant Rhodes, Singers Glen, Va.; Jack Riggs, Glenns Ferry, Idaho; Jay Romine, Mt. Washington, Ky.; Eli Sample, Annapolis, Mo.; Jeff Showalter, Broadway, Va.; Robert Strickler, Banco, Va.; Marshal Tingle, Nicolasville, Ky.; Glen Troyer, Inola, Okla.
The public may attend the livestock auction and competition free of charge. It will also be streamed live on the Livestock Marketing Association's Facebook page.
Qualifying events are balanced regionally across LMA Membership. The 2022 Western Regional Qualifying event was held at Producers Livestock Marketing Association in Salina, Utah on Sept. 28. The 2022 Midwestern Regional Qualifying event was held at Cherokee Sales Co. in Cherokee, Okla. on Nov. 10.
LMA, headquartered in Overland Park, Kan., is North America's leading, national trade association dedicated to serving its members in the open and competitive auction method of marketing livestock. Founded in 1947, LMA has more than 800 member businesses across the U.S. and Canada and remains invested in both the livestock and livestock marketing industries through support, representation and communication efforts.
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