World Livestock Auctioneer Championship at Paris Stockyards June 18
Special one-hour highlight show to air on RFD-TV June 27

Paris Stockyards, Paris, Ky., will host the 2016 World Livestock Auctioneer Championship (WLAC) on Saturday, June 18. The 53rd annual WLAC will take place in conjunction with the Livestock Marketing Association’s (LMA) Annual Convention in Lexington at the Hilton Lexington Downtown hotel.

For the World Livestock Auctioneer Champion title, 31 semi-finalist auctioneers will compete in live interview and auctioneering contests. Because of this important, high-profile role, each WLAC semi-finalist must establish their knowledge of the livestock marketing business, and demonstrate ability to express that knowledge with clarity, in a live interview competition.

The interviews will be on Friday, June 17, at the Hilton Lexington Downtown. The interview competition can be viewed live on www.LMAauctions.com starting at 2:00 p.m. (EST).

The Saturday, June 18, auctioneering competition will be at Paris Stockyards during a live sale where contestants will sell cattle to actual bidders in the seats. It will be streamed live beginning at 8:00 a.m. (EST) on www.LMAauctions.com and broadcast as a special, one-hour show on RFD-TV June 27, starting at 8:00 p.m. (EST).

Reigning World Livestock Auctioneer Champion, Brandon Neely, will serve as event emcee. Many past World Livestock Auctioneer Champions will attend this year’s contest, and each will sell cattle during the Parade of Champions, a portion of the WLAC sale between the semi-finalist and finalist rounds.

Contestants who have qualified to compete are Neil Bouray, Superior, Neb.; Darren Carter, Ninety Six, S.C.; Leon Caselman, Long Lane, Mo.; Brian Curless, Pittsfield, Ill.; Justin Dodson, Welch, Okla.; Will Epperly, Dunlap, Iowa; Philip Gilstrap, Pendleton, S.C.; Mike Godberson, Pawnee, Okla.; Brandon Hamel, Damar, Kan.; Michael Imbrogno, Fresno, Calif.; Brennin Jack, Prince Albert, Sask.; Garrett Jones, Los Banos, Calif.; Lynden Judy, Omaha, Ark.; Marcus Kent, Dunnellon, Fla.; Dan Koupal, Dante, S.D.; Mark Lane, Russellville, Ala.; Kyle Layman, Morland, Kan.; Jacob Massey, Petersburg, Tenn.; Blake McDaniel, Tallassee, Ala.; Justin Mebane, Bakersfield, Calif.; Jared Miller, Leon, Iowa; Daniel Mitchell, Cumberland, Ohio; Lander Nicodemus, Cheyenne, Wyo.; Jay Romine, Mt. Washington, Ky.; Duane Rus, Rock Valley, Iowa; Jason Santomaso, Sterling, Co.; Kevin Schow, Paxton, Neb.; Ethan Schuette, Washington, Kan.; Russele Sleep, Bedford, Iowa; Preston Smith, Imperial, Neb.; and Andy White, Ashland, Ohio.

The general public may attend the auctioneering portion of the contest free of charge.

The 2016 LMA Annual Convention and WLAC is sponsored in part by the Meadowbrook Star Insurance Group, Cattlemen’s Beef Board, Berkley Agribusiness Risk Specialists and the official animal health sponsor, Merial. More information about the events can be found at www.LMAweb.com.

To interview a contestant or past World Champion, please contact Lindsay Graber.