WLAC Rules, Procedures, & Entry

The World Livestock Auctioneer Championship (WLAC) is conducted in four stages:

1. WLAC Quarterfinals
2. WLAC Semi-Finals Interview Competition
3. WLAC Semi-Finals Competition
4. WLAC Finals Competition

CONTESTANT QUALIFICATIONS
To qualify for competition at any stage of the WLAC, each entrant must be a livestock auctioneer, at least 18 years of age, employed by a traditional fixed facility livestock auction market and must not have sold at the 2012 WLAC Host market – Turlock Livestock Auction Yard, Inc. – after January 1, 2012.  Each contestant must be sponsored by and include the signature and contact information of a traditional fixed facility livestock auction market vouching for his/her status as a livestock auctioneer (the 2012 host market may not sponsor any contestants).  WLAC Quarterfinal host markets may not sponsor a contestant for their own event and WLAC Quarterfinal entrants must not have sold at the WLAC Quarterfinal host market within 6 months of the WLAC Quarterfinal contest date.

All entrants are required to provide a drivers license number or social security number and date of birth with their registration.  This personal information will be used to prepare insurance coverage for the championship award truck and if necessary to check on the status of an entrant as a livestock auctioneer and/or a background check regarding felony convictions.  The WLAC Committee reserves the right to at anytime request proof of employment as a livestock auctioneer such as a 1099 tax reporting form. 

WLAC Quarterfinals - RULES & ENTRY CRITERIA
The WLAC Quarterfinals will be held in four locations balanced geographically throughout the LMA Membership.  The top 8 auctioneers from each WLAC Quarterfinal, meeting all entry criteria, shall be immediately qualified for the WLAC Semi-Finals.  The 1st, 2nd and 3rd highest scoring contestants from each of the WLAC Quarterfinals shall also be named Champion, Reserve and Runner-Up. 

Contestants are allowed to compete in up to two WLAC Quarterfinals.  Contestants competing in two WLAC Quarterfinals may only qualify for the WLAC Semi-Finals from one.  After qualifying, contestants are ineligible for entry at any other WLAC Quarterfinal during the same contest year. 

For each of the WLAC Quarterfinals, five judges will be selected to score contestants based on clarity of chant and voice quality, bid catching ability, conduct of the sale, would this auctioneer make a good spokesperson? and would the judge hire this auctioneer.  The judges will be made up of LMA members and all efforts are taken to select judges that are balanced geographically throughout the LMA membership.  All five judge’s scores will be combined for a total possible 500 points. In the event of a tie, the scores from the judging criteria, in the following order, will break the tie: “Would you hire this auctioneer?”, "Would this auctioneer make a good spokesperson?", bid catching, execution of the sale, an clarity of chant/voice quality.  

A $100 entry fee per WLAC Quarterfinal will be required upon registration.  If an entry fee is paid for 2 WLAC Quarterfinals and the contestant qualifies for the Semi-Finals at the first event the additional $100 will be paid toward their remaining Semi-Finalist entry fee.  If a contestant enters a WLAC Quarterfinal and is unable to attend, advance notice of cancellation must be given to LMA in order to receive a refund.  Contestants must complete and submit a WLAC registration form along with a check for $100 per WLAC Quarterfinal in which they choose to compete up to a maximum of $200 for their maximum of 2 selected contests.  Completed registration forms and entry fees must be postmarked and mailed to Livestock Marketing Association by the dates noted on the registration form.

A contestant schedule of events will be provided to all contestants prior to each WLAC Quarterfinal.  For those events marked as REQUIRED ATTENDANCE FOR ALL CONTESTANTS, no exceptions will be made and contestants must be in attendance at the start time posted.  FAILURE TO DO SO WILL RESULT IN DISQUALIFICATION OR DEDUCTION OF POINTS AS DEEMED NECESSARY BY THE WLAC COMMITTEE. 

During the WLAC Quarterfinals, no WLAC Committee Member, Judge or Contestant may bid on livestock.  If a person in these positions wishes to bid / buy livestock during the contest, an order must be given to another representative.    

WLAC Semi-Finals - RULES
The WLAC Semi-Finals competition is composed of two parts, the interview and live auction and will feature the 32 contestants qualified from the WLAC Quarterfinals and the reigning International Auctioneer Champion if he/she meets all of the above contestant qualifications and submits the semi-finalist entry fee of $400. 

A Semi-Finalist schedule of events will be provided to all Semi-Finalists prior to the WLAC.  For those events marked as REQUIRED ATTENDANCE FOR ALL SEMI-FINALISTS, no exceptions will be made and contestants must be in attendance at the start time posted. FAILURE TO DO SO WILL RESULT IN AN AUTOMATIC 25% DEDUCTION OF POINTS OR DISQUALIFICATION.  This is reviewable by the WLAC Committee for instances outside the contestants control. 

Judges
Five judges will be selected from the LMA membership to score the live auction competition.  These 5 judges will not be allowed to watch or participate in the interview event.  Five separate judges will be selected for the interview competition consisting of the chairmen of each of the LMA committees (WLAC, Government and Industry Affairs and Membership Services) with the final 2 slots filled by allied industry or ag media representatives.  All judges will continue to undergo a strict qualification process, checking for conflicts of interest and overall qualifications as a judge.  If a chairperson is not eligible as a judge, the alternate would be selected from that chairperson’s committee.  

Interview
The interviews are held in front of a live audience and the reigning Champion will ask each Semi-Finalist the same three questions.  The judging criteria for the interview will be personal presentation, clarity with which the individual expresses him/her self, and knowledge of the livestock industry.  The interview will account for 25% of the Semi-Finalist score. 

The questions are determined by a selection committee consisting of the current LMA President, Vice President, Chairman of the Board, WLAC Committee Chairman, Government and Industry Affairs Committee Chairman and the LMA CEO and Vice President of Membership Services.  If any member of this selection committee has a perceived bias towards a contestant they will be excused from the selection process.

Live Auction
The 33 Semi-Finalists will sell eight drafts of livestock during a live sale at the host market.  The Championship judges, made up of LMA members, will score each contestant based on clarity of chant and voice quality, bid catching ability, conduct of the sale, and would the judge hire this auctioneer?  The live auction will account for 75% of the Semi-Finalist score.

Ten Finalists will be selected from the Semi-Finals based on the combined score of interview and live auction. 
During the Semi-Final auction round, no WLAC Committee Member, Championship Judge or Contestant may bid on livestock.  If a person in these positions wishes to bid / buy livestock during the contest an order must be given to another representative.

WLAC Finals - RULES
The original Semi-Finalist interview score of the 10 Finalists will carry over to the Finals and account for 25% of the Finalist score.  The Finalists will not be interviewed again. 

Following a short break after completion of the Semi-Finals, Finalists will draw for order and return to the block to sell 10 drafts of livestock.  The same set of judges as in the Semi-Final round will score the 10 individuals based on clarity of chant and voice quality, bid catching ability, conduct of the sale, and would the judge hire this auctioneer?  The live auction portion will account for 75% of the Finalist score. The Semi-Final live auction score will hold no basis after the Finals competition has begun.

Finalists will be notified of their schedule.  Failure to abide by this schedule WILL RESULT IN DISQUALIFICATION OR DEDUCTION OF POINTS AS DEEMED NECESSARY BY THE WLAC COMMITTEE. 

During the final auction round, no WLAC Committee Member, Ring, Interview Judge or Contestant may bid on livestock.  If a person in these positions wishes to bid / buy livestock during the contest an order must be given to another representative.

World Championship Awards
World Titlists will share in a variety of prizes provided by Livestock Marketing Association, national companies and supporting organizations. The World Champion will be presented with the Championship Ring, valued at nearly $1,000, a cash prize of $5,000, the World Champion’s Sculpture, and World Champion Belt Buckle. The Reserve Champion and Runner-up Champion will also receive a cash prize, crystal and belt buckle

The World Champion will also be granted the use of the Champion’s Truck for his year as reigning Champion. 

Each of the 10 Finalists will receive a trophy belt buckle. The handcrafted buckles are custom-designed for the WLAC by a well-known Western artisan and patterned from the three World Titlists buckles.

In addition, all 33 contestants will receive gifts for their participation in the World Livestock Auctioneer Championship.