Paiz, Layman, and Thompson earn top honors at Meat In Auctioneer Contest

March 19, 2024 — Twenty auctioneers competed in the first Meat In Auctioneering Contest at the Logan County Meat In event in Sterling on March 16. Hosted by Sterling Livestock Commission Company in honor of the late Bud Van Berg, the Meat In and auction contest was attended by about 3,000 people.

Sixto Paiz from Lubbock, Texas, a perennial contender in large regional and national contests, earned the grand prize and with it, the $10,000 prize. Reserve champion was Kyle Layman of North Platte, Nebraska, and third was Jace Thompson of Billings, Montana. The winner of the crowd favorite award was Tyler Kanode from Haxtun, Colo.

Hunter Santomaso, an up and coming, fourth generation auctioneer at Sterling Livestock Commission, said he was impressed with the quality of the contestants and said there were multiple contestants who are young and will be exciting to watch them as they hone their craft. Santomaso said he listens to Paiz and several others to improve his own chant

World Champion auctioneer John Korrey was there and presented Paiz with a custom leather portfolio from the Korrey family to honor Van Berg, who was instrumental in Korrey’s own auctioneer career.

Several contestants, including Paiz, traveled through the portions of the Texas Panhandle and asked for continued prayer and support for the agriculture producers in that area.

“The contests are all about supporting the industry and keeping the auction industry alive,” Paiz said. “We see things going toward Artificial Intelligence, this has to continue, and it’s got to grow strong. That’s what these contests do, they help support that and that’s why I come to them to support the auction method of marketing. It does support my family and makes my living. I need to see it stay alive so I can keep doing what I do.”

Josh Larson, an auctioneer from Haxtun, Colo., competed and said attending the event was a great way to support agriculture producers and it was close enough to home to bring his family with him so they could all enjoy the day.

The Meat In event raised over $150,000 in the live auction alone and those funds will benefit local families, Angels of America’s Fallen, agriculture scholarships, Miracle Letter Program, Sadie Bug Charities, the Rocky Mountain Police and Fire Chaplain Benevolence Fund, the Family Resource Center, and provide rural mental health services to those seeking them who are unable to pay.

In addition to the auctioneer contest, the event included a cornhole tournament, beer wagon, burger and hotdog feed, and a silent auction.

Source: Western Ag Network