Lander Nicodemus named Champion at 2017 World Livestock Auctioneer Championship Midwestern Regional
Mike Godberson was Reserve Champion and Dan Koupal, Runner-Up Champion

Lander Nicodemus, Cheyenne, Wyo., was named Champion at the 2017 World Livestock Auctioneer Championship (WLAC) Midwestern Regional Qualifying Event. West Point Livestock Auction, West Point, Neb., hosted the final of three WLAC qualifying events. A total of 26 contestants competed for a top 10 placing, granting them a spot in the 2017 WLAC at Public Auction Yards in Billings, Mont.

Nicodemus is sponsored by Torrington Livestock Markets, Torrington, Wyo.

Following college, Nicodemus was trying to find his way in the career world and consulted with his father, who had previously attended auctioneer school and worked for Torrington Livestock Markets, on becoming an auctioneer. After some instruction, and a few years practicing his chant “behind the wheel” of a truck at a Nebraska feedyard, Nicodemus decided he was ready to move back to Wyoming and paid a call to Lex Madden at Torrington Livestock Markets.

Fast forward to today. Nicodemus admits that he was not necessarily looking for an auctioneering job when he called Madden, but after time spent as a field representative, received a chance to sell cattle. The auctioneer has progressed from selling weigh cows to larger feeder cattle sales. He considers his job at Torrington Livestock Markets to be a great mentoring opportunity with the Madden brothers, a pair of auctioneers who Nicodemus regards as two of the greatest. Lex is the 1998 World Livestock Auctioneer Champion, and Shawn won the title in 2001.

This is the second year Nicodemus has competed in the WLAC Qualifying Events and also qualified for the WLAC. Looking to June, Nicodemus is “still on cloud nine and extremely honored” by his Midwestern Regional win but already has plans in store to prepare for the WLAC. Nicodemus says that he believes a WLAC win would be more than the actual honor of the title, but the opportunity to better himself through competition and represent the state of Wyoming, its livestock marketing industry and the producers he works for each sale day.

Also making a great showing were Reserve Champion, Mike Godberson, Pawnee, Okla., and Runner-up Champion, Dan Koupal, Dante, S.D. The following contestants also qualified for the 2017 WLAC: Neil Bouray, Webber, Kan.; Ab Carroll, Downeyville, Ontario; Lance Cochran, Medford, Okla.; Brian Little, Wann, Okla.; Blake McDaniel, Tallassee, Ala.; and Jared Miller, Leon, Iowa. The Top Rookie award is given to the high-scoring, first-time contestant, and Cody Lowderman, Macomb, Ill., won the award and a spot at the 2017 WLAC.

A live cattle sale took place with actual bidders in the seats. Contestants were judged on the clarity of their auction chant; vocal quality; ability to catch bids and conduct the sale; and if the judge would hire the auctioneer. Judges for each qualifying event are livestock market owners and managers from across the United States. The Midwestern Regional was judged by Zach Boulineau, Wilkes County Stockyard, Washington, Ga.; Todd Eberle, Burwell Livestock Market, Ltd., Burwell, Neb.; Greg Rus, Mitchell Livestock Marketing, LLC, Mitchell, S.D.; Carl McKettrick, Jr., Arcadia Stockyard, Arcadia, Fla.; and Tim Starks, Cherokee Sales Co., Cherokee, Okla.

Other contestants who competed are Ross Annett, Brooks, AB; Jared Anstine, Holden, Mo.; Glenn Berkner, Sleepy Eye, Minn.; Chuck Bradley, Rockford, Ala.; Tom Bradley, Winterset, Iowa; Marcus Kent, Dunnellon, Fla.; Cody Kirschbaum, Bloomington, Wis.; Ken McDonald, Indian Head, SK; Bill Nance, Sheldon, Mo.; Kirk Otte, Gordon, Neb.; Lane Rodman, Perkins, Okla.; Ethan Schuette, Washington, Kan.; Daren Shumway, Lehi, Ariz.; Justin Steward, Wyoming, Iowa; Scott Werlein, Gilmanton, Wis.; and Curtis Wetovick, Fullerton, Neb.

The contest will re-air Saturday, January 21 on www.LMAauctions.com beginning at 12:00 p.m. CST.

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.