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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.