Imperial Auction Market will be a hub of activity Saturday as they host the Western regional of the 2018 World Livestock Auctioneer Championship (WLAC).
    Saturday’s competition, held by the Livestock Marketing Association (LMA), will be held in conjunction with one of the largest special yearling sales the Imperial Auction Market has held under the ownership of Preston and Marissa Smith.
    Opening ceremonies will begin at 10:30 a.m. MT/11:30 a.m. CT with the auction to follow at 11 a.m. MT/12 p.m. CT. All events are open to the public.
    Smith said they expect anywhere from 3,300 to 4,000 head of cattle to go through the ring Saturday.
    That’s by far the largest special he’s ever had at the barn and may well be one of the biggest in the sale barn’s history.
    The competition will feature 25 contestants vying for a top 10 placing. That advances them to the 2018 WLAC at Bloomington Livestock Exchange in Bloomington, Wis., next June.
    The reigning World Livestock Auctioneer Champion, Brian Curless of Pittfield, Ill., will serve as the emcee at Saturday’s event.
    Curless won the 54th annual World Livestock Auctioneer Championship June 17 in Billings, Mont.
    Smith explained each auctioneer will sell seven different drafts of cattle. These include one draft of weigh-up cows, one package of bred heifers, four packages of weaned calves and one package of yearlings.
    That could take 10 to 15 minutes for each of the competitors.
    Five judges comprised of LMA members and/or owners will determine the regional winners.
    Two other regionals will be held in Texas and Indiana to determine the 30 finalists for the world title.
    Smith said figuring out the logistics to bring that exact combination of packages into the ring 25 times in a row has been somewhat of a challenge.

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