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For Immediate Release

October 26, 2011

World Livestock Auctioneer Champion appearing at 2 Iowa livestock markets: in Lamoni Nov. 17, in Knoxville Nov. 18

     The winner of the 2011 World Livestock Auctioneer Championship (WLAC), Charly Cummings, will bring his prize-winning talent to two Iowa livestock markets, Nov. 17 & 18.  Here’s his schedule:
     Nov. 17, Lamoni Livestock Auction, Inc., 900 East Main Street, Lamoni.  Owner Randy Gibson said Cummings, of Yates Center , Kan., will start selling about 1 p.m.
     “We’ll have a nice run of cattle, from some of this area’s top producers,” Gibson said.
     Having a world champion sell livestock at his market is nothing new for Gibson.  “Our regular auctioneer, Lanny Ireland, was named world champion in 1996.  In fact, Lanny’s been somewhat of a mentor for Charly, and we’re looking forward to having him join us on the seventeenth.”
     Nov. 18, Knoxville Regional Livestock Market, 1583 Highway 5 South, Knoxville. The invitation for Cummings to appear came about for a couple of reasons, said Knoxville co-owner Joe Wright.
     “Charly’s a friend, and I wanted to promote the auction method of livestock selling – the best way to get the best price,” Wright said. He noted that ’96 World Champion Lanny Ireland also sells regularly at Knoxville.
     Cummings will put his distinctive chant to work about 11 a.m. The market is expecting 3000-3500 head of outstanding cattle to go through the sale ring.
     Both his Iowa market appearances are free and open to the public
     Cummings, 32, defeated 32 other contestants to win this year’s WLAC, held in June in Williamston, S.C.  It was his fourth time competing for the world title
     His previous highest finish was last year in Oklahoma City, when he was named runner-up world champion, or third place.  In 2008, he won the “Rookie of the Year” award, given to the first-time contestant with the highest score in that year’s semi-finals.
     The annual WLAC, now in its 48th year, is widely considered the World Series and Super Bowl of the livestock auctioneering profession.
     The contest was created and is conducted by Livestock Marketing Association, the national trade association for progressive marketing businesses like the ones in Lamoni and Knoxville.
     In addition to being an auctioneer, Cummings is a partner in Southeast Kansas Stockyards in Gas, Kan.
     During his year as champion, he is traveling across the U.S., appearing at LMA member markets and at industry events. And that’s just fine with him.
     “I enjoy visiting livestock marketing businesses like Lamoni Livestock and Knoxville Regional, helping to turn the spotlight on what they do for America’s independent livestock producers, day in and day out – and that’s keeping competition in our industry,” Cummings said.