The Calhoun Stockyard on Oct. 15 will host 29 livestock auctioneers who all have the same goal: winning Livestock Marketing Association’s 2010 World Livestock Auctioneer Championship (WLAC).

The Stockyard is hosting the third of four qualifying contests for next June’s WLAC, which will be held in Oklahoma City.

At each qualifying contest, three winners will be named, and they and the next five highest-scoring contestants in each contest move on to the contest that’s been called the “World Series” and “Super Bowl” of their profession.

That means eight Calhoun contestants will have a chance to take home the top title in the 2010 WLAC, the 47th annual. The Championship was created and conducted by LMA, the national trade association for progressive marketing businesses like the Calhoun Stockyard.

Stockyard President Gene Williams said he wanted to host the contest because “We thought it would be something a little different for our area, and a good way to promote beef.”

The beef will be on hoof at the contest, which is an actual livestock sale. Williams said the sale starts about 10:30 a.m., with the contest getting underway about 2:30 p.m.

“We’re expecting about 1,000 head for the sale, mainly feeder cattle,” he said, “from some of this area’s top producers.” The market is at 2270 Rome Road, S.W.

LMA President Bobby Smith said the qualifying contests, held across the U.S., “put the spotlight on the outstanding job livestock markets, like the Calhoun Stockyard, do every day to promote and preserve the competitive livestock marketing method – the best way to get the best price for your livestock.”