Andy Baumeister of Goldthwaite, Texas, was named champion at the 2023 World Livestock Auctioneer Championship (WLAC) qualifying event at Longview Livestock in Longview, Texas. A total of 30 contestants competed for a top ten placing, granting them a spot in the 2023 WLAC semifinals at Arcadia Stockyard in Arcadia, Fla.  

“As a kid, I was just infatuated with auctioneers and horse sales, actually,” Baumeister said. “We had a local horse sale that was once a month, and I think I was probably 12 or 13 when I went and got to sell for a bit. Once I got older, I would go and help every month, and then went to Missouri Auction School when I was 21.” 

Baumeister and his family currently own and operate Lampasas Cattle Auction in Lampasas, Texas, where he sells regularly. He says that winning the qualifier in his home state is a wonderful feeling.  

“I wasn’t expecting this,” Baumeister said. “I was just hoping to make the top 10. I’ve gotten hooked coming to these things, and I love it. The lifelong friends that we’ve met through this contest are great.” 

A live cattle sale took place, with the market’s regular buyers and sellers in the seats. Auctioneer contestants were judged on the clarity and quality of their chant, presentation, ability to catch bids/conduct the sale and how likely the judge would be to hire the auctioneer. Judges for the qualifying event were livestock market owners, managers, dealers and/or allied industry members from across the nation. 

Individuals advancing to the semifinals with Baumeister are Shannon Davis, Winnsboro, Texas; Runner Up Champion Justin Dodson, Welch, Okla.; Lane Marbach, Victoria, Texas; Reserve Champion Brandon McLagan, Elmer, Mo.; Troy Robinett, Decatur, Texas; Ethan Schuette, Washington, Kan.; Jeff Showalter, Broadway, Va.; Seth Waldroup, Westminster, S.C.; and Curtis Wetovick, Fullerton, Neb. 

Other contestants who competed were Gary Crawley, Kiowa, Okla.; Keelan Dunn, Bowie, Texas; Cody Hanold, Brighton, Ill.; Kirby Hill, Paris, Texas; Travis Holck, Lake Crystal, Minn.; Calvin Hollis, Mannford, Okla.; Michael Imbrogno, Turlock, Calif.; Takoda Kiser, Wytheville, Va.; Jonathan Lopinto, Amite, La.; Tilon Mast, Auburn, Neb.; Justin Mebane, Bakersfield, Calif.; Bill Nance, Sheldon, Mo.; Tate Rainey, Sweetwater, Texas; Luke Schubert, Brainerd, Minn.; Barrett Simon, Rosalia, Kan.; Dustin Smith, Jay, Okla.; Brooks Thompson, Prague, Okla.; Scott Twardowski, Swanville, Minn.; Tim Yoder, Montezuma, Ga.; and Zack Zumstein, Marsing, Idaho.   

The final WLAC qualifying event will be held at Windsor Livestock Auction Co., Inc. in Windsor, Mo., on January 4, 2023.