08/01/06 Changing the Auctioneer

Changing the Auctioneer. I'm Greg Martin with today's Line On Agriculture. Each year - the Livestock Marketing Association hosts the "granddaddy" of auctioneer contests - the World Livestock Auctioneer Championship. But this year - LMA Vice President of Member Services Kristen Hendricks says LMA`s making some changes to the contest - making it even bigger and better than before. HENDRICKS: This year we're actually very excited to announce a series of regional qualifying events. There'll be regional championships/qualifying events for the World Livestock Auctioneer Championship where we'll be going out into each of our 4 WLAC regions and holding a live competition at auction markets in those regions to name the regional champions as well as the qualifiers to move on to the world contest in Springfield, Missouri in June of '07. Each and every day - Hendricks says livestock markets throughout the country are providing thousands of livestock producers with true price discovery. By moving away from a video-qualifying process - and into the field - Hendricks says LMA can turn the spotlight on the vital role of livestock markets... HENDRICKS: We really did want an opportunity to expand the visibility our member markets and that the livestock markets have at each of their communities, their regions, their states; and also that the role the livestock auctioneer has in those businesses. It's such a hand-in-hand relationship, they work so well together and it's another opportunity for us to give due respect and recognition to that process. At the same time - Hendricks says LMA designed the new regional qualification rounds to encourage contestants to compete. She says by broadening the entry criteria - and providing multiple regional competitions - LMA is opening the door for the participation of more livestock auctioneers. After all - Hendricks says the WLAC truly is the world auctioneering championship - and LMA would like to see as many livestock auctioneers as possible bring everything they`ve got to the competition - and see if they`ve got what it takes to win over the panel of judges. HENDRICKS: Three judges from each of the regions will be scoring them on their bid catching ability; voice clarity and chant; how they expedite the sale and then also they're going to be asking themselves the question of whether or not they would hire that auctioneer to work at their own business. Visit www.lmaweb.com for more information. That's today's Line On Agriculture. I'm Greg Martin on the Northwest Ag Information Network.