ST. ONGE, S.D. – In one week’s time, the biggest gathering of auctioneers in one place will be happening at St. Onge Livestock for the World Livestock Auctioneer Championship – also called the WLAC. Market owner Justin Tupper is looking forward to it.

Held in conjunction with the Livestock Marketing Association’s (LMA) annual convention June 17,20, 2026 in Deadwood, S.D., the auctioneer championship takes place June 20, 2026 at St. Onge Livestock.

The WLAC brings together the top professional livestock auctioneers from across North America to compete in live sale settings. The multi-stage event tests their bid-calling ability, market knowledge, and salesmanship. Contestants qualify at regional events held earlier in the year. Tupper says it’s a tough competition; the winner has to earn it.

At the LMA convention, a full-slate of topics is on the agenda with barn owners and managers sharing best practices and innovative approaches that have worked in their operations. Joe Goggins, Billings, MT., a lifelong livestock marketer and rancher, will take the helm as president of the LMA during the annual convention. And while he’s been engaged in many organizations over the years, he told the Western Ag Network, LMA has a special place in his heart.

“This board is made up of people that have skin in the game,” Goggins said. “Every day they’re out doing the work, worrying about their producers, their consignors and the whole industry.”

LMA Convention & WLAC Agenda:

Wednesday, June 17, 2026
1:00 p.m. – 5:30 p.m. — Registration Desk Open
1:00 p.m. – 2:45 p.m. — Emergency Preparedness Meeting (Open Session)
3:00 p.m. – 5:30 p.m. — Government and Industry Affairs Committee (Open Session)
5:30 p.m. – 6:30 p.m. — Welcome Cocktail Reception hosted by Auction Insurance Agency (AIA)
5:30 p.m. – 7:30 p.m. — WLAC Committee Meeting (Closed Session)
5:45 p.m. – 8:30 p.m. — Government and Industry Affairs Committee (Closed Session)

Thursday, June 18, 2026
6:45 a.m. – 8:00 a.m. — Breakfast
7:00 a.m. – 4:45 p.m. — Registration Desk
7:00 a.m. – 9:15 a.m. — Committees Update Panel & Member Forum
8:30 a.m. – 2:00 p.m. — Mount Rushmore Tour
9:15 a.m. – 10:15 a.m. — Morning Mixer hosted by Auction Insurance Agency (AIA)
9:30 a.m. – 10:15 a.m. — Board of Directors Meeting (Closed Session)
10:30 a.m. – 12:00 p.m. — Board of Directors Meeting (Open Session)
12:00 p.m. – 1:00 p.m. — Networking Lunch
12:00 p.m. – 4:00 p.m. — Semi-Finalist Briefing – Lunch for Semi-Finalist will be at the St. Onge Bar on way to market
1:00 p.m. – 2:00 p.m. — Breakout Session 1: Fraud Prevention – How Livestock Marketers Are Targeted and What Tools Can Help to Stop the Next Attempt
2:15 p.m. – 3:15 p.m. — Breakout Session 2: From Incident to Action – Injury Protocols Every Livestock Marketing Business Should Have
3:30 p.m. – 4:30 p.m. — Breakout Session 3: Practical Digital Marketing Tools for Livestock Marketers
4:45 p.m. — Busses to begin loading from the Lodge
6:00 p.m. – 9:00 p.m. — Host Market BBQ & Contestant Draw at Spur Creek Saloon & Ranch, Newell, SD

Friday, June 19, 2026
7:30 a.m. – 9:00 a.m. — Breakfast8:00 a.m. – 6:00 p.m. — Registration Desk Open8:00 a.m. – 9:30 a.m. — General / Panel Session 1: They’ve lived it – The experience and advice from seasoned office managers that they wish they’d have known starting out.9:00 a.m. – 11:00 a.m. — Deadwood Walking Tour9:15 a.m. – 10:15 a.m. — Ring Judges Briefing (Closed Session)9:45 a.m. – 11:15 a.m. — General / Panel Session 2: Unwelcome Visitors – Managing the Pests and Pathogens Testing Our Industry Preparedness10:15 a.m. – 11:15 a.m. — Interview Judges Briefing (Closed Session)11:30 a.m. – 12:50 p.m. — LMA Annual Gathering & Recognition Lunch12:50 p.m. – 1:15 p.m. — Market Marshal Photo Op with WLAC Champions1:00 p.m. – 1:30 p.m. — Sweet Tooth Ice Cream Break1:15 p.m. – 1:25 p.m. — Semi-Finalists Report for Interviews 1:30 p.m. – 5:00 p.m. — Contestant Interviews2:00 p.m. – 3:00 p.m. — PLIC Board Meeting (Closed Session)6:00 p.m. – 7:00 p.m. — PAC Reception7:00 p.m. – 9:30 p.m. — PAC Auction & Buffet Dinner

Saturday, June 20
7:30 a.m. – End of Sale — Remote Viewing Room
7:45 a.m. – End of Sale — WLAC Competition
6:30 p.m. – 7:00 p.m. — WLAC Awards Reception – Deadwood Mountain Grand, downtown Deadwood
7:00 p.m. – 9:00 p.m. — WLAC Banquet & Awards Ceremony – Deadwood Mountain Grand, downtown Deadwood

Those attending will have the opportunity to meet all 31 auctioneers who will step into the WLAC spotlight in St. Onge and Deadwood.

WLAC 2026 Contestants
A.J. Austin, Newport, Ark., Zach Ballard, Kennebec, S.D., Mitch Barthel, New York Mills, Minn., Tyler Bell, Anderson, Tex., Neil Bouray, Webber, Kan., Kellan Bussell, Idabel, Okla., Darren Carter, Ninety Six, S.C., Leon Caselman, Long Lane, Mo., Colvin W. Connell, Willard, N.Mex., Austin Henderson, Dickinson, N.D.;

Michael Imbrogno, Turlock, Calif., Brennin Jack, Virden, Manitoba, Josh Jasper, Nicholasville, Ky., Tucker Kail, Puryear, Tenn., Takoda Kiser, Leon, W.V., Ryan Konynenbelt, Fort Macleod, Alberta, Christopher Miller, Calhan, Colo., Jerran Miller, Chouteau, Okla., Travis Moniz, Princeton, Calif., Garrett Nunn, Laramie, Wyo.;

Chas Ophus, Watford City, N.D., Ross Parks, New Concord, Oh., Tate Rainey, Sweetwater, Tex., Troy Robinett, Decautur, Tex., Austin Schaben, Dunlap, Ia., Seth Schneider, Hershey, Neb., Ethan Schuette, Washington, Kan., Barrett Simon, Rosalia, Kan., Andrew Sylvester, Westmoreland, Kan., Jace Thompson, Billings, Mont., and Marshal Tingle, Nicholasville, Ky.

WLAC Winners by Year from North Dakota, Montana, Wyoming, South Dakota and Nebraska:
Year     Winner            Hometown / State
1965    Glen Helberg, North Platte, Nebraska
1968    Bob Schnell, Lemmon, S.D.
1971    Ronald Woodward, Broken Bow, Nebraska
1972    Bog Steffes, Arthur, North Dakota
1973    Jim Strain, Martin, South Dakota
1979    Terry Elson, Curtis, Nebraska
1980     Dean Schow, Paxton, Nebraska
1981    Doug Jaggers, Rushville, Nebraska
1983    Bud Knight, Billings, Montana
1991   Roger Emigh, McCook, Nebraska
1995   Mike Baxter, Ainsworth, Nebraska
1997    Joe Frazier, McCook, Nebraska
1998    Lex Madden, Torrington, Wyoming
2001    Shawn Madden, Torrington, Wyoming
2008   Matt Lowery, Burwell, Nebraska
2009    Ty Thompson, Billings, Montana
Note: In some years, the winning auctioneer resided in a different state or country but won while officially representing a livestock market located in Montana, Nebraska, North Dakota, or South Dakota

State-by-State Breakdown
South Dakota: 1 winner (1968)
Nebraska: 9 winners (1965, 1971, 1979, 1980, 1981, 1991, 1995, 1997, 2008)
Montana: 2 winners (1983, 2009)
Wyoming: 2 winners (1998, 2001)
North Dakota: 1 winner (1972)