FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Contact:      Joe Schuele     jschuele@beef.org     720-987-4783 

Californian Wins First Annual Auctioneer Contest

NASHVILLE (Feb. 1) - Gene Klaft of Los Alamos, Calif., was named the Champion Cattlemen’s Auctioneer Wednesday at the Cattle Industry Annual Convention and Trade Show.  Klaft, competing against other top auctioneers from across the country, won the first-time event known as the Cattlemen’s Championship Auctioneer Contest.  The event was hosted by the National Cattlemen's Beef Association's Livestock Marketing Council (LMC).

The auctioneer contest was held in conjunction with NCBA’s PAC bull auction at the NCBA Trade Show.  Auctioneers sold bulls and sale credit lots during the auction.  All lots were donated by NCBA members, with proceeds benefiting NCBA’s Political Action Committee Fund (NCBA-PAC).

Klaft was sponsored by Templeton Livestock Market and Visalia Livestock Market, both of California. Reserve Champion Jay Romine of Mount Washington, Ky., was sponsored Blue Grass Stockyards, Lexington, Ky.  Second Runner-up Joel Martin of Williamston, S.C., was sponsored by Martin & Martin Cattle Co., Inc., of Williamston, S.C.

Corporate sponsors providing prizes and awards included IMI Global, North Country Ethanol, and Cline Wood Agency.  These companies are all valued partners of the LMC. 

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NCBA’s Livestock Marketing Council is a fully operational marketing service for cattlemen, provided by cattlemen.  LMC works with auction markets and order buyers across the country to enhance the opportunity for livestock market operators and order buyers to join and actively participate in the National Cattlemen’s Beef Association and receive value-added services.

LMC provides its members with many beneficial services such as credit check services, preferred insurance provider, preferred legal services, and timely industry information.  LMC also has monthly conference calls with council leadership and LMC members to give market reports from each individual’s area, address beef industry concerns, give trade updates, and discuss recruiting tactics.

The National Cattlemen’s Beef Association (NCBA) is the largest organization representing America’s cattle industry.  Initiated in 1898, NCBA is the industry leader in education, influencing public policy to improve producer profitability and in preserving the industry’s heritage and future.  Efforts are made possible through membership contributions. To join, contact NCBA at 1-866-BEEF-USA or membership@beef.org.