Meetings, a tour of two Tulare County livestock operations and a dairy cattle sale that showcased the skills of 31 auctioneers vying for the title of World Livestock Auctioneer Champion highlighted four days of events in one of America's leading farm counties.

The Livestock Marketing Association held its annual membership meeting in Visalia, Calif., but the draw of the event was the annual championship auction at the Tulare Sales Yard where auctioneers competed in the first-ever 100 percent dairy sale in the organization's history. Russele Sleep, a livestock auctioneer from Bedford, Iowa, was named the 2019 World Livestock Auctioneer after competing against 30 other well-qualified contestants.

David and Tina Macedo, owners of Tulare Sales Yard, hosted the annual event, which included a hosted barbecue at the Tulare Fairgrounds. David is the 2006 World Livestock Auctioneer champion.