PRESS RELEASE
Kansas auctioneer wins World Livestock Auctioneer Championship qualifier
November 1, 2018
Kansas City, Mo.
Lynn Langvardt, Chapman, Kansas was named Champion at the 2019 World Livestock Auctioneer Championship (WLAC) Western Regional Qualifying Event. Delta Sales Yard, Delta, CO hosted the second of three WLAC qualifying events on Saturday, October 27. A total of 14 contestants competed for a top 10 placing, granting them a spot in the 2019 WLAC at Tulare Sales Yard in Tulare, California.
“I’m extremely humbled to win the WLAC Western Qualifying Event. The contest was filled with a lot of great auctioneers that did an outstanding job of working for both the seller and buyer.”
Langvardt has earned the title of Region Champion two other times since his first competition in 1998. He moves onto the WLAC Semi-Finals where the competition is composed of two parts, an interview and live auction selling.
Langvardt is a second-generation auctioneer. He grew up attending weekly sales at the auction market his father both owned and auctioned at. Which allowed him to know at an early age he wanted to make it his full-time career.
“A large portion of my win was dedicated to my dad because he was the one who taught me to auctioneer. But also, for my sellers and buyers I’ve worked with over the years. I’m looking forward to representing them at the 2019 WLAC in Tulare.”
The Langvardt family has owned Junction City Livestock Sales in Junction City, KS for 53 years and Clay Center Livestock Sales in Clay Center, KS for 22 years. Making the auction market a fourth generational family business.
Langvardt was sponsored by LaCrosse Livestock Market, LaCrosse, Kansas.
Also making a great showing were Reserve Champion Justin Mebane, Bakersfield, Calif.; Runner-up Champion, Eric Drees, Nampa, Idaho; Colton Brantley, Modesto, Calif.; Brandon Frey, Creston, Iowa; Steve Goedert, Dillion, Mont.; Shane Hatch, Kirtland, N.M.; Brennin Jack, Prince Alberta, Saskatchewan; Garrett Jones, Los Banos, Calif.; Zack Zumstein, Marsing, Idaho.
A live cattle sale took place with actual bidders in the seats. Contestants were judged on the clarity and quality of their auction chant; auctioneer presentation; ability to catch bids and conduct the sale; and how likely the judge would be to hire the auctioneer. Judges for each qualifying event are livestock market owners and managers from across the United States.
Other contestants who competed are Patrick Greenleaf, Wilmore, Kan.; Michael Jennings, Condor, Alberta; Josh Larson, Haxtun, Colo.; Christopher Miller, Calhan, Colo.
About the World Livestock Auctioneer Championship
In June 1963, the Livestock Marketing Association held the first annual World Livestock Auctioneer Championship (WLAC) at the Cosmopolitan Hotel in Denver, Colorado. The purpose: to spotlight North America’s top livestock auctioneers and to salute their traditionally important role in the competitive livestock marketing process. That year, 23 auctioneers from the United States and Canada sold the same 20 head of cattle over and over again.
The contest was held at hotels until 1967, when it traveled to its first LMA member market. Since then the WLAC has been held in conjunction with the LMA Marketing Industry Convention at member markets around the U.S. and Canada. Recent locations include California, Missouri, Montana, Tennessee, Kansas, South Dakota and Alberta, Canada.
Though the rules have changed, the enthusiasm for the competition hasn’t. On average each year, nearly 100 auctioneers enter the qualifying events and only 31 (10 from each qualifying event, one from the auctioneering competition at Calgary Stampede) are selected to compete in the WLAC. The championship consists of three stages: the regional qualifying events held at different markets around the country, followed by the semi-finals and the finals that are held each June in conjunction with the LMA Annual Convention. Contestants competing for the World Champion title must be 18 years old, employed as a livestock auctioneer and sponsored by a local auction market that shares in the favorable publicity generated by the winners.
LMA is proud to sponsor an event that brings together North America’s top livestock auctioneers in a competition that showcases professionalism and promotes the auction method of selling livestock.
About the Livestock Marketing Association
The Livestock Marketing Association (LMA), headquartered in Overland Park, Kan., is North America’s leading, national trade association dedicated to serving its members in the open and competitive auction method of marketing livestock. Founded in 1947, LMA has more than 800 member businesses across the U.S. and Canada and remains invested in both the livestock and livestock marketing industries through member support, education programs, policy representation and communication efforts.
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