Langvardt wins King of the Ring contest

Lynn Langvardt knew in advance he was going to face some of the top livestock auctioneers in the country, and he drew on a past experience to help him.

That preparation paid off July 27 when the Chapman, Kansas, auctioneer bested an eight-man field and won $15,000 by winning the King of the Ring championship at Winter Livestock, Dodge City, Kansas. More than 7,000 cattle went through the ring during the annual King of the Ring competition, according to Brian Winter. A photo above shows a ring full of cattle.

Drawing on past experience

Previously, Langvardt competed against nine other auctioneers, and he placed fourth. He remembers that back then, although he had been to Winter Livestock, it was his first time being seated at the front, behind the microphone. It was an unforgettable feeling to see so many people seated in a packed arena, he said.

This time when he got behind the microphone, he relaxed.

“I felt good, and I was a little more comfortable, and that was the difference,” he said. “I saw quite a few familiar faces, and while there were people that I don’t sell cattle for, there were buyers I knew.”

Langvardt sold a ring of cattle for Russ Emigh, Selden, the brother of the late Roger Emigh, and said he felt honored to do so. Langvardt was friends with Russell’s brother, and at the end of the contest he won the Roger Emigh Champion’s Choice.

“I think that was great,” Langvardt said. “Roger’s son (Taten) was there to see that, and I got to work with Roger at Pratt (Livestock), and his son was a little boy then. He sure has grown, and it was great to see Shirley (Roger’s mother).”

Powerhouse field

In winning King of the Ring title, Langvardt said it takes work, preparation and good fortune. Past World Livestock Auctioneer Contest champions who competed at King of the Ring this year included Kenneth Wilcox, Greenbrier, Arkansas, and Lex Madden, Torrington, Wyoming.

Zach Ballard, Presho, South Dakota, and Sixto Paiz, Portales, New Mexico, who was reserve champion of King of the Ring, have been knocking on the door at the national contest, and Langvardt believes it is only a matter of time before they are both crowned as a WLAC champions. By placing second, Paiz pocketed $5,000.

“You have past world champions, and it is prestigious to win (King of the Ring), and it is prestigious for a reason,” Langvardt said.

Young auctioneers included Zach Zumstein, Boise, Idaho, Philip Gilstrap, Pendleton, South Carolina, and Darren Carter, Ninety Six, South Carolina. Zumstein was second runner-up and earned $4,000. Carter was the recipient of the Brian Little Award, and he received a trophy.

Remembering Roger Emigh

Langvardt said being named the Roger Emigh Champion’s Choice was humbling.

“I felt honored to be chosen,” he said. “It was a great feeling to win King of the Ring and then Brian said to me, ‘Stay here.’ I wasn’t sure what to expect.”

Langvardt’s peers voted on him to receive the Roger Emigh award. He was told the vote was nearly unanimous, and the reason it wasn’t unanimous was because he voted for another contestant.

Emigh, who was several years older than Langvardt, was a gifted auctioneer, Langvardt said.

“I didn’t get the opportunity to work with him as much as I would have liked,” he said. “There were guys that were good and a few that were great, and he was one of the greats. Roger had worked for Winters for quite some time, and when I signed up to sell cattle at Pratt, Roger was the main auctioneer. Roger treated me great. It was a good relationship. I liked Roger, and I looked up to him. He was a talent who left us way too soon.”

Emigh was the 1991 World Livestock Auctioneer Contest champion. By receiving the Emigh award, Langvardt earned an additional $1,500.

The Pratt connection was noted by Mark Winter, who posted on the Pratt Livestock Facebook page, “We are fortunate to have Lynn at Pratt Livestock! He pours his heart into his work and takes a personal interest in our customers. The hours are never too long. He gives his all on every draft of cattle. A true cattleman, and one of the very best auctioneers.”

Langvardt is a member of a family operation that owns JC Livestock, Junction City, and Clay Center Livestock, whose roots are traced back to 1966. His parents, the late Howard and Ann Langvardt, and his grandfather, Vern, encouraged Langvardt at a young age. Langvardt remembers his father letting him sell baby calves when he was young. Langvardt continues to sell at both auction barns.

Dave Bergmeier can be reached at 620-227-1822 or [email protected].