If Russele Sleep wins this year’s World Livestock Auctioneering Championships, he says it would be a huge honor. “I used to go to markets with my dad and watch the auctioneers sell calves. I loved it… winning would be like getting my super bowl ring.”
Sleep is one of 5 Iowans competing in this year’s 2014 World Livestock Auctioneer Championships that are being hosted by the Knoxville Regional Livestock Market at the Des Moines Marriott Hotel this weekend. There are competitors from 14 states and a few from Canada. Iowa has the strongest representation with five people vying for first place.
Sleep is from Bedford, Iowa and has competed in the contest before but hasn’t ever won despite placing in the top 10 three times. Auctioneers will compete in interview rounds and will sell at a live market today. In this River to River interview, Sleep talks with Emily Woodbury about how he learned to talk like an auctioneer.