WLAC History
In June 1963, Livestock Marketing Association held the first annual World Livestock Auctioneer Championship (WLAC). The purpose: to spotlight North America’s top livestock auctioneers and to salute their traditionally important role in the competitive livestock marketing process. Auctioneers from the United States and Canada came to the Cosmopolitan Hotel in Denver, Colorado to show off their auctioneering talents. Twenty-three contestants 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 at member markets around the U.S. and Canada. Recent locations include Missouri, Oklahoma, Texas, Utah, Virginia and West Virginia. Though the rules have changed, the enthusiasm for the competition hasn’t. The largest number of entrants in the contest to date was in 1981 when LMA received 105 auctioneer entries.
The championship consists of three stages, the qualifying event, semifinals and the finals, 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 livestock auction or dealer businesses, who share 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 showcased professionalism and promotes the auction method of marketing.
Past World Champions
2024
Wade Leist
Boyne City, Michigan
Hosted by:
Oklahoma National Stockyards
Oklahoma City, Oklahoma
2023
Jacob Massey
Petersburg, Tennessee
Hosted by:
Arcadia Stockyard
Arcadia, Florida
2022
Will Epperly
Dunlap, Iowa
Hosted by:
Shipshewana Auction & Trading Place
Shipshewana, Indiana
2021
Chuck Bradley
Rockford, Alabama
Hosted by:
Dickson Regional Livestock Center, LLC
Dickson, Tennessee
2019
Russele Sleep
Bedford, Iowa
Hosted by:
Tulare Sales Yard
Tulare, California
2018
Jared Miller
Leon, Iowa
Hosted by:
Bloomington Livestock Exchange
Bloomington, Wisconsin
2017
Brian Curless
Pittsfield, Illinois
Hosted by:
Public Auction Yards
Billings, Montana
2016
Andy White
Ashland, Ohio
Hosted by:
Paris Stockyards
Paris, Kentucky
2015
Brandon Neely
Southside, Alabama
Hosted by:
Clifton Livestock Commission
Clifton, Texas
2014
Blaine Lotz
Edna, Kansas
Hosted by:
Knoxville Regional Livestock Market
Knoxville, Iowa
2013
Dustin Focht
Stillwater, Oklahoma
Hosted by:
Montgomery Stockyards
Montgomery, Alabama
2012
Bailey Ballou
Elgin, Oklahoma
Hosted by:
Turlock Livestock Auction Yard, Inc.
Turlock, California
2011
Charly Cummings
Yates Center, Kansas
Hosted by:
Upstate Livestock Exchange, LLC
Williamston, South Carolina
2010
Kyle Shobe
Lewistown, Montana
Hosted by:
Oklahoma National Stockyards, Inc.
Oklahoma City, Oklahoma
2009
Ty Thompson
Billings, Montana
Hosted by:
Fergus Falls Livestock Auction Market, Inc.
Fergus Falls, Minnesota
2008
Matt Lowery
Burwell, Nebraska
Hosted by:
Sioux Falls Regional Livestock
Worthing, South Dakota
2007
Trent Stewart
Redmond, Oregon
Hosted by:
Springfield Livestock Marketing Center
Springfield, Missouri
2006
David Macedo
Tulare, California
Hosted by:
Escalon Livestock Market, Inc.
Escalon, California
2005
Ron Kreis
Adamsville, Ohio
Hosted by:
Tulsa Stockyards
Tulsa, Oklahoma
2004
Dan Skeels
Rimbey, Alberta
Hosted by:
Public Auction Yards
Billings, Montana
2003
Jon Schaben
Dunlap, Iowa
Hosted by:
Blue Grass Stockyards
Lexington, Kentucky
2002
John Korrey
Illif, Colorado
Hosted by:
Dunlap Livestock Auction
Dunlap, Iowa
2001
Shawn Madden
Torrington, Wyoming
Hosted by:
OKC West Livestock Market, Inc.
El Reno, Oklahoma
2000
Max Olvera
Turlock, California
Hosted by:
Western Stockman’s Market, Inc.
Famoso, California
1999
Rick Machado
Arroyo Grande, California
Hosted by:
Western Carolina Livestock Market
Asheville, North Carolina
1998
Lex Madden
Torrington, Wyoming
Hosted by:
Central Missouri Sales Company
Sedalia, Missouri
1997
Joe Frazier
McCook, Nebraska
Hosted by:
Fort Pierre Livestock Auction, Inc.
Fort Pierre, South Dakota
1996
Lanny Ireland
Fort Scott, Kansas
Hosted by:
Burnt Lake Livestock Mart, LDIV
Red Deer, Alberta
1995
Mike Baxter
Ainsworth, Nebraska
Hosted by:
Knoxville Livestock Center, Inc.
Knoxville, Tennessee
1994
Bruce Brock
Battle Creek, Iowa
Hosted by:
Atchison County Auction Company
Atchison, Kansas
1993
Denny Prilipp
Algona, Iowa
Hosted by:
Public Auction Yards
Billings, Montana
1992
Jim Funk
Edgewood, Iowa
Hosted by:
Roanoke-Hollins Stockyards
Hollins, Virginia
1991
Roger Emigh
McCook, Nebraska
Hosted by:
Oklahoma National Stockyards
Oklahoma City, Oklahoma
1990
Kenneth Wilcox
Amarillo, Texas
Hosted by:
Shasta Livestock Auction Yard
Cottonwood, California
1989
Paul C. Behr
St. Paul, Minnesota
Hosted by:
Blue Grass Stockyards
Lexington, Kentucky
1988
Joe Don Pogue
Sulphur Springs, Texas
Hosted by:
Amarillo Livestock Auction Company
Amarillo, Texas
1987
Jeff Stokes
Port Orchard, Washington
Hosted by:
Ontario Stock Yards
Toronto, Ontario
1986
John Rodgers
Tulare, California
Hosted by:
Ellensburg Sales Yard
Ellensburg, Washington
1985
Stenson Clontz
Jerome, Idaho
Hosted by:
Humeston Livestock Auction, Inc.
Humeston, Iowa
1984
James Carrithers
Johnson, Kansas
Hosted by:
Bales Continental Commission, Inc.
Huron, South Dakota
1983
Bud Knight
Billings, Montana
Hosted by:
Dickson Livestock Center, Inc.
Dickson, Tennessee
1982
Dan Williams
Boone, North Carolina
Hosted by:
Saskatchewan Wheat Pool
Regina, Saskatchewan
1981
Doug Jaggers
Rushville, Nebraska
Hosted by:
St. Paul Union Stockyards
South St. Paul, Minnesota
1980
Dean Schow
Paxton, Nebraska
Hosted by:
Templeton Livestock Market
Templeton, California
1979
Terry Elson
Curtis, Nebraska
Hosted by:
Livestock Exchange
Brush, Colorado
1978
Charles Cumberlin
Brush, Colorado
Hosted by:
Four Square Markets, Inc.
Marshall, Missouri
1977
Bobby Russell
Jackson, Mississippi
Hosted by:
Calgary Stockyards
Calgary, Alberta
1976
Steve Liptay
Bowmanville, Ontario
Hosted by:
New Holland Sales Stables
New Holland, Pennsylvania
1975
Ron Ball
Brush, Colorado
Hosted by:
Arkansas National Stockyards Company
Little Rock, Arkansas
1974
Ralph Wade
Greeley, Colorado
Hosted by:
Stockland Livestock Exchange
Spokane, Washington
1973
Jim Strain
Martin, South Dakota
Hosted by:
Norfolk Livestock Market, Inc.
Norfolk, Nebraska
1972
Bob Steffes
Arthur, North Dakota
Hosted by:
Tri-County Livestock Company, Inc.
Social Circle, Georgia
1971
Ronald Woodward
Broken Bow, Nebraska
Hosted by:
Port City Stockyards
Sealy, Texas
1970
Parade of Former World Champions
Hosted by:
Omaha Stockyards
Omaha, Nebraska
1969
Archie Moody
Darlington, South Carolina
Hosted by:
Monterey Fairgrounds
Monterey, California
1968
Robert Schnell
Lemmon, South Dakota
Hosted by:
Interstate Livestock Auction
Seffner, Florida
1967
Ken Troutt
Emmett, Idaho
Hosted by:
Great Falls Livestock Market
Great Falls, Montana
1966
H. “Skinner” Hardy
Wasco, California
Hosted by:
Grand Hotel
Mackinac Island, Michigan
1965
Glen Helberg
North Platte, Nebraska
Hosted by:
Muehlebach Hotel
Kansas City, Missouri
1964
Cecil Ward
Gainsville, Texas
Hosted by:
John Marshall Hotel
Richmond, Virginia
1963
Ed Buckner
Mexico, Missouri
Hosted by:
Cosmopolitan Hotel
Denver, Colorado
