Gene Klaft, Los Alamos, CA, was named the Champion Cattlemen's Auctioneer last week in Nashville, TN. Klaft competed against other top auctioneers from across the country in the event hosted by the National Cattlemen's Beef Association's Livestock Marketing Council (LMC).

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, SC, was sponsored by Martin & Martin Cattle Co., Inc., of Williamston, SC.

LMC 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 (NCBA) and receive value-added services.

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).

-- National Cattlemen's Association news release