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

1. Regional Championships / WLAC Qualifying Events
2. WLAC Semi-Finals Interview Competition
3. WLAC Semi-Finals Competition
4. WLAC Finals Competition

Regional Championship
RULES & ENTRY CRITERIA

Regions

A Regional Championship will be held in each of the 4 WLAC regions.

The top 8 auctioneers meeting all entry criteria shall be immediately qualified for the WLAC Semi-Finals.

The 1st, 2nd and 3rd highest scoring contestants shall also be named the Regional Champion, Reserve and Runner-Up.

Contestants are allowed to compete in up to two regional events. Contestants competing in two regional championships may only qualify for the WLAC from one. After qualifying, contestants are ineligible for entry at any other regional event during the same contest year.

For each of the Regional Championships, five LMA Member judges will be selected from outside the host region to score contestants based on clarity of chant and voice quality, bid catching ability, conduct of the sale, personal expression and would the judge hire this auctioneer. The judges will be made up of LMA members.

The high and low scores for each contestant will be dropped leaving a total possible 300 points per contestant. The “Would you hire this auctioneer?” score is used to determine placements in the event of a tie.

A $100 entry fee per Regional Championship will be required upon registration. If an entry fee is paid for 2 regional events 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 regional event 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 regional championship 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. The deadlines will not be extended for any person / reason.

A contestant schedule of events will be provided to all contestants prior to the regional events. 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 AT THE MINIMUM OF 70% TOTAL DEDUCTION OF POINTS AS DEEMED NECESSARY BY THE WLAC COMMITTEE.

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

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 livestock auction market and must not have sold at the 2008 WLAC host market (Sioux Falls Regional Livestock, Worthing, South Dakota) after January 1, 2008. Each contestant must be sponsored by and include the signature and contact information of a livestock auction market vouching for his/her status as a livestock auctioneer (the 2008 host market may not sponsor any contestants). Regional Championship host markets may not sponsor a contestant for their own contest (i.e. the Southwestern host may not sponsor a contestant in the Southwestern Regional Championship) and Regional Championship entrants must not have sold at the Regional host market within 6 months of the regional 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 Semi-Finals

WLAC Semi-Finals competition will feature the 32 contestants qualified from the regional championships and the reigning International Auctioneer Champion, who receives a "bye", if he meets all of the above contestant qualifications. All qualified Semi-Finalists will be required to submit an 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 DISQUALIFICATION OR AT THE MINIMUM OF 70% TOTAL DEDUCTION OF POINTS AS DEEMED NECESSARY BY THE WLAC COMMITTEE.

These 33 individuals will be interviewed by a panel of three LMA members on current industry issues and topics. Each semi-finalist will be asked the same 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 10% of the semi-finalist score. After interviewing each semi-finalist will sell eight drafts of livestock. A panel of 5 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 90% 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, Ring or Interview Judge or Contestant may bid on cattle during competition. If a person in these positions wishes to bid / buy livestock during the contest, an order must be given to another representative for the buyer.

WLAC Finals

The original interview score of the 10 Finalists will carry over to the Finals and account for 20% 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 80% 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 AT THE MINIMUM A 70% TOTAL DEDUCTION OF POINTS AS DEEMED NECESSARY BY THE WLAC COMMITTEE.

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

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 a World Champion Belt Buckle. The Reserve Champion and Runner-up Champion will also receive a cash prize, crystal and belt buckle.

Each of the 10 Finalists will receive a gold and silver 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 awards for their participation in the 2008 World Livestock Auctioneer Championship.