The best auctioneers in the business competed yesterday in the midwestern regional qualifying event for the World Livestock Auctioneer Championship. Stockmen’s Livestock in Yankton, South Dakota hosted the final round. Tom Frey President of the Livestock Marketing Association says 31 contestants competed from all over the U.S. and Canada. He says auctioneering is an art and so is being a world champion.

He says the qualifying event is a live sale where each contestant auctions 8 drafts of livestock to actual bidders. The contestants are judged on variety of competencies, including their professionalism.

The top ten qualifiers were selected to go on to the finals.

The Livestock Marketing Association has been holding the contest since 1963.