Printer Friendly Version

For Immediate Release
May 2, 2008

Sioux Falls Regional Livestock will become part of LMA’s 45-year Auctioneering Championship tradition on June 28

The almost-new auction market, Sioux Falls Regional Livestock, is getting ready to host on June 28, an industry event steeped in tradition -- the 45th annual World Livestock Auctioneer Championship.

Part of that tradition are the three world champions who came from the Dakotas in the contest’s first decade: Robert Schnell, then from Lemmon, S.D., who won the top title in 1968; Bob Steffes, then from Arthur, N.D., in 1972, and Jim Strain, then living in Martin, S.D., in 1973.

For SFRL co-owner and vice president Brad Klostergaard, having his market join that tradition is very exciting. Hosting the contest, sponsored and conducted by LMA “means everything to us,” he said recently.

“We’re excited to show our facility” – which opened a little more than a year ago in Worthing, S.D. – “to buyers, visitors and all those auctioneers. It’s a huge deal to us.”

The day-long contest, a real livestock sale, starts at 8 a.m. Klostergaard said he expects to have 3,500 – 4,000 head of cattle going through the sale ring.

“We have a lot of great producers in this area who will bring their cattle in for this sale,” he said.

Thirty-three semi-finalists will be moving those cattle from the sellers to the buyers, in a demonstration of the competitive marketing process.

The contestants are judged as they sell several drafts of cattle, by a panel of market owners and professional livestock dealers.

Judging criteria are vocal clarity and quality, bid-catching ability, ability to keep the sale moving, and by the judges answering the question, “Would I hire this auctioneer to work for me?”

The top 10 scorers then return to the block, where they are judged again while selling more cattle.

Thirty-two semi-finalists qualified through four WLAC quarter-final competitions, conducted last fall and winter by LMA. The top eight scorers in each quarter-final move on to the world championship.

The 33rd semi-finalist is the current International Auctioneer Champion, who traditionally is given a “bye” into the semi-finals.

There were no qualifying contests for ’73 world champion Strain, who won in Norfolk, Neb. Back then, he said, “You could just sign up and show up.”

He entered twice prior to the ’73 contest, in 1971 and 1972.

The third time was also the charm for ’68 champion Schnell, who finished second in both 1966 and 1967. Now living in Rapid City, S.D., Schnell, 77, won his title in Seffner, Fla.

Steffes, of Fargo, N.D., also won his title in a southern city, Social Circle, Ga. There the Midwesterner noticed a major difference in the way cattle were sold.

“I had been working for an outfit that sold 250,000 head of feeder cattle annually,” and the tendency was to sell cattle in large, “load-lot” strings.

At the Georgia contest, he said, cattle were sold individually. “Every now and then,” he said, “they’d have a big bunch – two.”

For being named world champion, Schnell remembers being awarded “a big trophy and a trip to Hawaii.” But the trip included an auctioneering duty: “I was required to sell a 4-H livestock sale in Honolulu.”

Strain took home “a pair of boots, a trophy, a belt buckle and a Stetson hat. The prizes today have become much nicer,” he observed, adding quickly, “but I wasn’t in it for the prizes.”

The 2008 champions take home thousands of dollars in cash and prizes, including, for the winner, a year’s use of a free truck.

Asked how he felt he would do against today’s auctioneers, Schnell had a diplomatic answer. “Some of these auctioneers are better than any of us old-timers. They’re terrific – they’ve learned from us and have improved along the way.”

Steffes said, “For our time we were very good…but today there is a different kind of auctioneering It’s gotten faster.” That’s due he said, to the influence of the automobile auctions, “which promote speed.”

Strain was ready to step back into the auction block. “I think I would be a serious competitor,” he said. “I am ready to go up against the new blood.”

For Immediate Release
April 21, 2008

Former world champs say winning LMA’s Auctioneer Championship takes perseverance, combination of talents

WORTHING, S.D. – Winning Livestock Marketing Association’s 45th annual World Livestock Auctioneer Championship, to be held here June 28, will take a combination of talents, former world champions said.

For the record, when the 33 contestants step into the auction block at the Sioux Falls Regional Livestock market, they will be judged by a panel of market owners and professional livestock dealers on vocal clarity and quality, bid-catching ability, ability to keep the sale moving, and by the judges answering the question, “Would I hire this auctioneer to work for me?”

Former champions like 2002’s John Korrey, Iliff, Colo., acknowledge the importance of those criteria. “You’ve got to have a good chant,” he said.

And Max Olvera, Galt, Calif., said the day he won the 2000 Championship, “It felt like everything was clicking – my chant, I was finding the bidders easily, the cattle were moving well – it just felt like it was my day.”

But, they said, other qualities are needed to win the “Super Bowl” of the livestock auctioneering profession.

“Perseverance,” said reigning champion Trent Stewart, and he should know. He competed in the contest eight times before winning the title last June in Springfield, Mo.

That was echoed by Olvera. “It takes patience,” said this contestant, who entered 13 times before winning. “And if you don’t win or place, you’ve got to keep after it.”

Along with perseverance, Stewart, of Redmond, Ore., said, “You’ve got to keep a level head, and not lose your cool. You’ve got to be able to handle the pressure.”

Asked what was the toughest part of competing, Olvera said, “Nerves. You’re always uptight, and it takes selling a few drafts of cattle to settle down.”

The 33 semi-finalists are judged as they sell several drafts of cattle. The top 10 scorers then return to the block, where they sell more cattle.

The three titlists – world, reserve and runner-up champion – are named that evening at an awards banquet. They take home thousands of dollars in cash and prizes, including, for the winner, a year’s use of a new truck.

For Korrey, the hardest part of the competition was working a sale at a market “where you’ve never sold before, and finding your bidders at that new market.”

Are contestants aware of the judges sitting somewhere in the audience? “If it’s a large facility, you’re really not looking for the judges,” Olvera said. “But in a smaller facility, you can sometimes spot them.”

That was not a concern for Korrey when he competed. “You’ve got to put that out of your mind,” he said. “You’ve got to concentrate on what you do, and that’s professionally merchandise cattle.”

Korrey, Olvera and Stewart all entered several times before they won the top title. And not surprisingly, they all agreed that contest experience gave them an edge.

As Stewart put it, “You learn from the contest every time you’re in it.” Korrey said, “You’re going to be more relaxed, you’re going to be a more seasoned auctioneer.”

But you don’t have to be a veteran contestant to win it all. Joe Don Pogue, Sulphur Springs, Texas, became the 1988 world champion on just his second time in the contest.

When they called his name as the winner, “I was very surprised. I didn’t think I’d win, because there were so many contestants with so much contest experience.”

Pogue’s advice to newer contestants? “I think they try too hard. If they just go in, and try to be comfortable and do their normal (selling) job, they’ll be all right.”

Or, as Korrey put it, “Be relaxed and enjoy what you’re doing, because if you don’t, it’ll show.”

Thirty-two of this year’s semi-finalists qualified for the Worthing event through four WLAC quarter-final competitions, conducted last fall and winter by LMA. The top eight scorers in each quarter-final qualify for the World Championship.

The 33rd semi-finalist is the International Auctioneer Champion, who is traditionally given a “bye” into the semi-finals. The contest starts at 8 a.m. and is open to the public.

The Championship is the exciting climax to LMA’s annual meeting, which begins June 26 at the Best Western Ramkota Hotel in Sioux Falls. The meeting offers marketing business owners, as well as interested producers, the chance to explore a number of key industry issues, and hear knowledgeable speakers on current topics.

For registration and program information, call LMA at 800-821-2048. LMA is North America’s largest membership organization dedicated to supporting, representing and communicating with and for the entire livestock marketing sector.

For Immediate Release
April 1, 2008

RFD-TV to broadcast hour special on LMA’s June 28 World Livestock Auctioneer Championship, beginning in July

WORTHING, S.D. – North America’s best livestock auctioneers will display their competitive marketing skills here June 28 – and in America’s living rooms beginning July 28.

For the second consecutive year, Livestock Marketing Association’s annual World Livestock Auctioneer Championship (WLAC), held here in June at the Sioux Falls Regional Livestock market, will be the subject of a one-hour special on RFD-TV, premiering July 28.

RFD-TV, now in its 8th year, is the first 24-hour network for rural America. “The WLAC has a wide appeal,” said Mike Hansen, RFD-TV’s executive vice president. “The contest is something everyone can identify with, because try to find anyone in rural America who hasn’t been to an auction, or who isn’t planning to go to one soon.”

LMA President Jim Santomaso said the Association was looking forward to bringing the contest – “an outstanding example of competitive marketing in action” – to the 31 million homes served by RFD-TV.

“It’s no coincidence that everything from fine art, to championship horses, to the world’s finest livestock, is sold at auction,” he said. “Whatever you have to sell, a competitive auction is the best way to sell it. That’s an important message we’ll be bringing with this program.”

The audience is definitely there, Hansen said. “The program has great viewership, and we absolutely get viewer feedback.” As soon as last year’s program was broadcast, he said, “We started getting e-mails asking, ‘When will it be on again?’ and ‘Where can I get a copy of the program?’”

Last year’s program was shown more than once, and LMA officials said additional broadcast dates will be announced later.

RFD-TV is on cable TV systems in all 50 states, Hansen said. On the Dish Network, it’s channel 231, and on Direct TV it’s channel 379.

Santomaso said the program “will let us turn the spotlight, not only on an exciting and competitive event, but also on the basic principle behind that event: putting your livestock in front of several buyers creates competition – and that’s the best way to get the best price.”

The TV program will be a comprehensive look at the Championship, now in its 45th year. There will be a montage of the 33 semi-finalists as they market cattle during the contest, which is an actual sale.

That will be followed by a closer look at the 10 finalists as they return to the ring and sell more cattle. Behind-the-scenes interviews with the contestants, past champions, market owners, livestock consignors, LMA officials and others will also be featured.

Co-hosts for the broadcast will be two former world champions: 1998’s Lex Madden, Torrington, Wyo., and 2002’s John Korrey, Iliff, Colo.

Thirty-two of this year’s semi-finalists qualified for the Worthing event through four WLAC quarter-final competitions, conducted last fall and winter by LMA. The top eight scorers in each quarter-final qualify for the World Championship.

The WLAC traditionally gives a “bye” into the semi-finals to the International Auctioneer Champion, and he is the 33rd semi-finalist.

To become of the 10 finalists, the 33 semi-finalists go through an interview on industry issues and topics, and then sell several drafts of cattle. They’re judged on vocal clarity and quality, bid-catching ability, the ability to keep the sale moving, and by the judges – market owners and professional livestock dealers – answering the question, “Would I hire this auctioneer to work for me?”

The top 10 scorers then return for a final round of selling cattle, where the same judging criteria is used. The three titlists – world, reserve and runner-up champion – are named that evening at an awards banquet.

The three winners take home thousands of dollars in cash and prizes, including, for the world champion, a year’s use of a new truck.

The contest starts at 8 a.m. and is open to the public.

The WLAC caps LMA’s annual meeting, which begins June 26 at the Best Western Ramkota Hotel in Sioux Falls. The meeting will offer marketing business owners, and interested producers, a look at a number of key industry issues, discussed by knowledgeable speakers. For registration and program information, contact LMA at 800-821-2048.

LMA is North America’s largest membership organization dedicated to supporting, representing and communicating with/for the entire livestock marketing sector.

For Immediate Release
March 13, 2008

Sioux Falls Regional Livestock to host 33 livestock auctioneers competing for world championship title, June 28; contest spotlights competitive marketing, auctioneer’s role

Competitive livestock marketing at its best will be on display in Worthing, S.D., June 28, when the Sioux Falls Regional Livestock market hosts the 45th annual World Livestock Auctioneer Championship (WLAC).

Thirty-three of North America’s best livestock auctioneers will battle it out for the title of World Livestock Auctioneer Champion and the opportunity to represent his industry for the coming year.

The annual contest, spotlighting the auction method of selling livestock and the vital role of the auctioneer in that process, is sponsored and conducted by Livestock Marketing Association (LMA), Kansas City, Mo.

The LMA is North America’s largest membership organization dedicated to supporting, representing and communicating with/for the entire livestock marketing sector.

“All of us at Sioux Falls Regional Livestock are looking forward to hosting the Auctioneer Championship,” said Brad Klostergaard, vice president and co-owner. “This is the ‘World Series’ and ‘Super Bowl’ of the profession, and we invite everyone who enjoys the sound of a good auctioneer to be with us on June 28.”

Klostergaard pointed out the contest is an actual sale, with cattle going through the ring. “That means we will be marketing some of the area’s finest livestock, produced right here in the upper Midwest.”

Sioux Falls Regional Livestock also operates two Iowa livestock markets, Sheldon Livestock in Sheldon, and Tri-State Livestock, Sioux Center.

Thirty-two of the Championship semi-finalists qualified for the Worthing event through four WLAC quarter-final competitions conducted last fall and winter by LMA. The top eight scorers in each quarter-final move on to Worthing in June.

The 33rd contestant is the current International Auctioneer Champion. The WLAC traditionally gives a “bye” into the semi-finals to the winner of this Canadian contest.

LMA President Jim Santomaso, Sterling, Colo., said, “LMA members, all across the country, do much more than provide producers with competitive livestock marketing, the best way to get the best price. Marketing businesses are vital members of their communities, a gathering place for producers, and an important part of their local economy and the livestock industry.

“From the people they employ,” Santomaso said, “to the businesses they support, your local livestock market has an impact, long before and well after the sale is over.”

“Livestock auctioneers have always been an important link in the chain that connects buyers and sellers,” he said, “and we’ve got 33 of the best coming to Worthing.”

The contest starts at 8 a.m. and is open to the public.

Prior to selling cattle at the Saturday contest, the 33 semi-finalists are interviewed by a panel of LMA members on industry issues and topics. This interview will count for ten percent of the semi-finalist’s score.

Saturday morning, the semi-finalists will each sell several drafts of cattle. They are judged by a panel of market owners and professional livestock dealers on vocal clarity and quality, bid-catching ability, the ability to keep the sale moving, and by answering the question, “Would I hire this auctioneer to work for me?”

The 10 top scorers then return for a final round of selling, where the same judging criteria are used. The three titlists – world, reserve and runner-up champion -- are announced at an awards banquet the evening of the 28th.

The three winners take home thousands of dollars in cash and prizes, including, for the world champion, a year’s use of a new truck.

The June 28 Championship is the exciting finish to LMA’s annual meeting, which begins June 26 at the Best Western Ramkota Hotel in Sioux Falls. The meeting offers marketing business owners, and interested producers, the chance to explore a number of key industry issues, and hear knowledgeable speakers on a variety of current topics. For registration and program information, call LMA at 800-821-2048.

The semi-finalists and their hometowns are: Bailey Ballou, Elgin, Okla.; Jeff Bynum, Southside, Ala., Dan Clark, Winner, S.D.; Lance Cochran, Medford, Okla.; Chuck Cozzitorto, Hilmar, Calif.; Charly Cummings, Yates Center, Kan.; Shannon Davis, Yantis, Texas; Eli Detweiler, Jr., Ruffin, N.C.;

Justin Dodson, Welch, Okla.; Eric Duarte, Beatty, Ore.; Dustin Focht, Stillwater, Okla.; Tom Frey, Creston, Iowa; Mike Imbrogno, Atwater, Calif.; Ronald Knopp, Watertown, Tenn.; Lynn Langvardt, Wakefield, Kan.; Brian Little, Wann, Okla.;

Matt Lowery, Burwell, Neb.; Martin Machado, Winton, Calif.; Chance Martin, Red Deer, Alberta; Joel T. Martin, Williamston, S.C.; Andrew McDowell, Vandalia, Ill.; Brandon R. Neeley, Berkeley Springs, W.Va.; Ted Odle, Brush, Colo.; Paul Ramirez, Tucson, Ariz.;

Lonnie Rudd, Wilder, Idaho; Jason Santomaso, Sterling, Colo.; Kevin Schow, Paxton, Neb.; Rick Shoemaker, Kearney, Neb.; Preston Smith, Lexington, Neb.; Gabe Spikes, Bowie, Texas; Tracy Sullivan, Prague, Okla.; Ty Thompson, Billings, Mont.; and Al Wessel, Long Prairie, Minn.

For Immediate Release
February 22, 2008

LMA’s brief asks U.S. Supreme Court to review ruling shutting down Illinois horse processing plant

An Illinois law that closed a state horse processing plant, and the federal appeals court decision upholding the law, have effectively exempted 40,000 – 60,000 horses from humane slaughter.

That is a key reason why the U.S. Supreme Court should hear the appeal of the decision by the plant, Cavel International, Inc., according to an “amicus curiae” (friend of the court) brief filed on Feb. 22 by Livestock Marketing Association.

When the Court of Appeals for the 7th Circuit upheld the Illinois law that closed the DeKalb, Ill., plant last year, it “failed to address the adverse impact” of the law, LMA’s brief said.

As a result, “tens of thousands of horses…will die each year because they are at the end of their useful lives, (and) which will now die of neglect or be killed using procedures which are outside the protection accorded by the Humane Slaughter Act,” the brief said.

Cavel slaughtered 40,000-60,000 horses annually, all under provisions of the Humane Slaughter Act, which only applies to U.S. plants. The court rulings “have provided an incentive for the export of horses to foreign slaughterhouses, and are contributing factors in an increase of equine neglect,” the brief said, citing news accounts on this topic.

Agreeing to review the case “provides the (Supreme Court’s) last and only opportunity to restore the…Slaughter Act’s coverage in connection with horses.”

The Appeals Court also said it upheld the Illinois law because the law was “somewhat tenuously supported by a legitimate state interest.”

The amicus brief disagreed, saying “the de facto exemption” of the thousands of horses slaughtered by Cavel from provisions of the Humane Slaughter Act “more than outweighs” that somewhat “tenuous…state interest.”

The horse meat processed by Cavel was exported for foreign consumption. The “speculative rationalizations” the Appeals Court used to uphold the Illinois law “are insufficient to justify any burden on either foreign…or interstate commerce,” LMA’s brief said.

The Illinois law in fact creates an “unconstitutional burden upon the interstate commerce conducted at livestock markets,” which previously supplied horses to Cavel, the brief said. LMA represents over 800 livestock marketing businesses, including livestock markets, across the United States.

The Appeals Court decision is also in error because it allows state legislation “which is not directly protective of the health or safety” of Illinois citizens, to “displace the constitutional rights of citizens of other states to participate in interstate and foreign commerce…” the brief said.

At a minimum, the brief said, the Supreme Court should grant Cavel’s review request to resolve a conflict between this Appeals Court decision and an earlier decision from the First Circuit Court of Appeals, which also dealt with burdens on U.S. foreign commerce.

LMA filed the brief on behalf of its members. Nancy Robinson, LMA’s vice president for government and industry affairs, said LMA was very grateful to its industry partners for helping fund the preparation and filing of the brief.

Those partners are the National Cattlemen’s Beef Association, Kansas Livestock Association, Texas and Southwestern Cattle Raisers Association and Texas Cattle Feeders Association.

The brief is available at www.lmaweb.com.

For Immediate Release
January 7, 2008

LMA says proposed USDA rule on horse transport unauthorized, will be ‘nightmare’ for horse industry, livestock markets

Livestock Marketing Association has told the U.S. Department of Agriculture that the agency’s proposed new rule on transporting horses sets up “an unauthorized administrative and enforcement nightmare for the equine industry and livestock markets.”

The rule would expand the current ban on using double-decker trucks to transport horses to slaughter, to banning their use to transport horses to intermediate points, such as a stockyard, feedlot or assembly point, before arriving at a slaughter plant.

USDA has no clear-cut authority to regulate equine “that are not going directly to slaughter,” and thus is erroneously trying to expand the scope of current regulations, LMA said in comments dated Jan. 7.

“LMA is concerned these changes will have a significant negative administrative impact on its member markets, and a broader negative economic impact on the equine industry,” the marketing sector trade association said.

As the agency well knows, horses sold at auction markets “are sold for a number of different purposes…(and) any attempt to manage or limit the trucking of horses to and from auction markets or other intermediate delivery points, in anticipation (of) but without full realization of what use they will eventually be put to, either before or after the sale, is without merit and goes beyond the scope of the law,” LMA wrote.

Almost as troubling as the unwarranted expansion of current regulations is USDA’s admission they have little or no “hard numbers” on the degree to which double-decker trucks are currently being used to move slaughter horses to intermediate assembly points, LMA wrote.

In its background information on the proposed rule, the agency concedes, “We believe that equines may be delivered to these intermediate points, en route to slaughter, for the sole purpose of avoiding compliance with (current handling) regulations.”

Furthermore, LMA notes, “It is insufficient reason to enforce more regulation on the equine industry, livestock sales and so-called intermediate assembly points by stating in the proposed rule that the Department ‘has received numerous reports of this situation (transporting horses to intermediate assembly points to circumvent the law) occurring.’”

The livestock marketing sector and the equine industry, LMA wrote, “deserve much more proof of non-compliance with the current regulations than unsubstantiated claims in whatever numbers the Department has indiscriminately determined is numerous.”

In its proposal, USDA also admits data on the transport of horses to intermediate points en route to slaughter “is sparse at best, (and) we were not able to conduct a comprehensive analysis of the proposed rule’s potential economic impact.”

Like USDA, LMA also does not have this hard data, the association wrote. However, “a number of our member markets have reported…that in their experience very few of these trucks are in use today in transporting horses for any purpose,” particularly since USDA in December, 2006 banned the use of double-decker trucks to commercially transport horses to slaughter.

“Until the agency has a better fix on the degree of the problem,” LMA concluded, “their ability to enforce this rule on the many versus a selective few and its overall impact on the equine industry and allied businesses, the proposed rule should be withdrawn.”