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For Immediate Release

October 13, 2009

First-time entrant wins LMA’s second qualifying contest, held in Crawford, Neb., for 2010 WLAC

     CRAWFORD, NEB. –   Russele Sleep, Bedford, Iowa, said he entered the second qualifying contest for Livestock Marketing Association’s 2010 World Livestock Auctioneer Championship, held here Oct. 9, “just to get my foot in the door, because some day I want to be the world champion.”
     First-time entrant Sleep’s foot is definitely in the door – he won the contest and moves on to next June’s WLAC, to be held at the Oklahoma National Stockyards in Oklahoma City. The contest here was hosted by the Crawford Livestock Market, LLC.
    The reserve champion here, from a field of 17 entrants, is Rick Shoemaker, Kearney, Neb., and the runner-up champion is Kevin Schow, Paxton, Neb. 
     The three winners qualify for the WLAC, along with the next five highest scorers. They are, in alphabetical order, Ted Baum, O’Neill, Neb.; Will Epperly, Moneta, Va.; Tom Frey, Creston, Iowa; Andrew McDowell, Vandalia, Ill.; and Jason Santomaso, Sterling, Colo.
     Sleep, 25, said hearing his name called as champion “was like a dream come true.” He’s a 2004 graduate of the Missouri Auction School, and has been a full-time auctioneer for about a year and a half.
     His victory isn’t the only good news Sleep and his wife, Lacey, are celebrating. Just before leaving for Crawford, the couple learned they’re expecting their first child.
     The due date?  “Just before the (Oklahoma City) Championship,” said Sleep.
     He was sponsored by Madison County Livestock Auction, Winterset, Iowa; Tecumseh Livestock Auction, Tecumseh, Neb.; and Clarinda Livestock Auction, LLC, Clarinda, Iowa.  
     Reserve Champion Shoemaker has been in the contest four times, finishing among the top ten finalists twice. 
     Asked what keeps him coming back, he said he sees the contest as a way to promote the competitive livestock marketing system. “That’s something I really believe in,” said Shoemaker, 42, a partner in Huss Livestock Market, LLC, Kearney, which sponsored his entry.
     He said he won’t do anything special to prepare for Oklahoma City, “except to keep up on current (industry) issues.  It’s important to know what’s going on and to stay on top of it.”
      At the WLAC there is an interview competition. Each semi-finalist will be asked the same three questions on industry issues and topics. 
     This is his fifth year in the contest for Runner-Up Champion Schow, who admits he’s received “quite a little” tutoring from the 1980 world champion – his father, Dean Schow.
     Kevin Schow, 38, said as a child he “followed my Dad around,” from market to market. This is Kevin’s 5th year in the contest, and he was one of the 10 finalists last year.
     The best advice his Dad gave him about the business, Kevin said, “is treat everybody fairly,” and remember that when you’re selling at an auction market, those livestock “could be their owner’s yearly income.”
     Schow was sponsored by Ogallala Livestock Auction Market, Inc., Ogallala, Neb., and Ranchland Livestock Auction, Inc., Wray, Colo.
     A cash award and a custom-made belt buckle goes to the winner in each quarterfinal competition.  The reserve and runner-up champions in each contest also receive custom belt buckles.
     The remaining two qualifying contests are Oct. 15 in Calhoun, Ga., and Dec. 2 in Parsons, Kan. Brian Little, Wann, Okla., won the first qualifying contest, Sept. 25 in Billings, Mont.
     The eight qualifiers from each quarterfinal competition, along with the reigning International Auctioneer Champion – Paul Ramirez, Tucson, Ariz. – make up the field of 33 semi-finalists for the 2010 WLAC.
     At the WLAC, three titlists will be selected, and the winners take home thousands of dollars in cash and prizes.
     LMA conducts the WLAC and the qualifying contests to put the focus on competitive livestock marketing, and the auctioneer’s continuing vital role in that process.
     The qualifying contests, and the WLAC, are broadcast live at www.lmaauctions.com.