News

Iowa auctioneer wins qualifying event

Bedford, Iowa, auctioneer Russell Sleep is the Champion at the 2019 World Livestock Auctioneer Championship (WLAC) Midwestern Regional Qualifying Event. Holdenville Livestock Market in Holdenville, Oklahoma hosted the first of three WLAC qualifying events on Monday, October 1. A total of 32 contestants competed for a top 10 placing, granting them a spot in the 2019 WLAC at Tulare Sales Yard in Tulare, California.

Also making a great showing were Reserve Champion Dean Edge, Rimbey, Alberta, Runner-Up Vernon Yoder, Dundee, Ohio and Top Rookie Josh Garcia, Goliad, Texas. The remaining contestants who earned a top ten finish are Jim Hertzog, Butler, Mo., Will Epperly, Dunlap, Iowa, Dustin Smith, Jay, Okla., Neil Bouray, Webber, Kan., Chuck Bradley, Rockford, Ala., Curtis Wetovick, Fullerton, Neb., Dakota Davis, Caldwell, Kan.

In 2004, Sleep attended auctioneer school at Missouri Auction School and took his first auctioneering job selling cows and bulls at the Maryville, Mo., location for United Producers. Sleep currently sells five weekly livestock auctions. Sleep was sponsored by Clarinda Livestock Auction Inc., Clarinda, Iowa; Fort Scott Livestock Market, Inc., Fort Scott, Kan.; SEK Stockyards, LLC, Gas, Kan.; Russell Livestock Market and Green City Livestock Marketing.

Contestants are judged on clarity and quality of their auction chant; auctioneer presentation; ability to catch bids and conduct the sale; and how likely the judge would be to hire the auctioneer. Judges for each qualifying event are livestock market owners and managers from across the United States.

The World Livestock Auctioneer Championship is sponsored by the Livestock Marketing Association.