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For Immediate Release

June 30, 2008

He ‘played’ auctioneer as a child – now Nebraskan Matt Lowery is LMA’s 2008 World Livestock Auctioneer Champion

left to right: Ted Odle, Reserve Champion; Matt Lowery, 2008 World Champion; and Ty Thompson, Runner-up Champion

WORTHING, S.D. - Matt Lowery, who said he “grew up loving the cattle business, and playing auctioneer,” won Livestock Marketing Association’s 45th annual World Livestock Auctioneer Championship, held here June 28 at the Sioux Falls Regional Livestock market.

The reserve world champion is Ted Odle, Brush, Colo., and the runner-up world champion is Ty Thompson, Billings, Mont.

Lowery, 32, of Burwell, Neb., has been in the contest nine times. He’s won the reserve title twice and been runner-up champion once.

He told the awards banquet audience that “words can’t describe” what it means to be named world champion…“it’s like being a kid at Christmas.”

In a later interview, he said winning the top title is “fulfilling a boyhood dream,” adding, “It’s an honor and a challenge to be selected to represent the livestock marketing industry.” As champion, he will travel around the country, making appearances at markets and other events.

His sponsors were the Valentine, Neb., Livestock Auction Co., the Burwell, Neb., Livestock Market, Inc.; the Gordon, Neb., Livestock Auction Market, Inc., dealer/broker Bryce Heinrichs, Deshler, Neb., and Kneuppel Livestock and Order Buying, Inc., Shawano, Wisc.

Odle was sponsored by Superior Livestock Auction, Inc., Brush. He said he was “thrilled” to win the reserve, or second place, title. An auctioneer since the age of 16, Odle, 45, said he’s been in the contest “at least ten times.”

This marked the 11th time in the contest for Thompson, 35. He’s been one of the ten finalists seven times, and finished second twice, including last year.

Thompson said it’s “more than likely” he’ll be back to compete again, adding, “I always enjoy coming and learning something new.”

Thompson was sponsored by Public Auction Yards, Billings Live Stock Commission and Northern Livestock Video, all in Billings, and Winter Livestock, Inc., d/b/a Riverton Livestock Auction, Riverton, Wyo.

The remaining seven finalists, who emerged from a field of 33 contestants, were, in alphabetical order, Lance Cochran, Medford, Okla.; Charly Cummings, Yates Center, Kan.; Justin Dodson, Welch, Okla.; Tom Frey, Creston, Iowa; Brian Little, Wann, Okla.; Paul Ramirez, Tucson, Ariz., and Rick Shoemaker, Kearney, Neb.

Cummings was presented the Audrey K. Banks “Rookie of the Year” award. As the highest-scoring first-time entrant to make the semi-finals, he was awarded $500 from LMA.

The award is named in honor of Banks, an LMA employee who worked on the WLAC for over three decades.

From LMA, world champion Lowery won $5,000, a custom-designed champion’s sculpture and a 2008 Chevrolet Silverado 1500 Quad Cab 4/4. Lowery has use of the Silverado for one year, which was provided with the help of Lindsay Chevrolet, Lebanon, Mo.

The host market awarded Lowery a custom-designed, championship diamond ring. From the Missouri Auction School, he was given the Gold Microphone Award, and from the World Wide College of Auctioneering, the Golden Gavel Award.

The three champions and the seven other finalists received custom-designed silver belt buckles from LMA. LMA also awards the reserve champ $2,000 and a Waterford crystal decanter and glasses, and to the runner-up champ, $1,000 and a crystal gavel.

TenStar Technologies presented windbreakers to the finalists. The semi-finalists received portfolios from TenStar, jackets from LMA and overnight bags from Sioux Falls Regional Livestock.

The Championship is an actual sale, with buyers on the seats. The semi-finalists are judged on vocal clarity and quality, talent at keeping the sale moving and bid-catching ability.

The judges, a group of market owner/operators and professional livestock dealers, also ask the question, “Would I hire this auctioneer?” A portion of the contestants’ score is also determined from a pre-contest interview, where they’re judged on their ability to act as a spokesman for the livestock marketing sector.

The 33 semi-finalists are narrowed to 10 finalists. They return to the auction block and sell several more drafts of cattle, where they’re again judged on the above criteria.

This was the second year LMA used four quarter-final competitions to qualify contestants for the WLAC. The eight top-scoring contestants in each competition move on to the June contest. As has become a WLAC tradition, a “bye” into the semi-finals is given to the International Auctioneer Champion.

Next year’s quarter-final competitions will be held September 9 at Miles City Livestock Commission, Miles City, Mont.; Oct. 29 at Texhoma Livestock Auction, Texhoma, Okla.; Nov. 18 at Muskingum Livestock Auction Co., Zanesville, Ohio, and Dec. 2 at Kingsville Livestock Auction, Kingsville, Mo. The 2009 WLAC will be June 13 at Fergus Falls Livestock Auction Market, Fergus Falls, Minn.

LMA conducts the WLAC to spotlight the competitive marketing process, and the talented auctioneers who are a continuing vital part of that process.

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