‘Some day’ could be sooner than expected for the winner of the Livestock Marketing Association’s second qualifying contest for the 2010 World Livestock Auctioneer Championship. Russele Sleep of Bedford, Iowa was a first-time entrant who just wanted to get his foot in the door in hopes of some day becoming the world champion. The win means Sleep will get a shot at that world title in June at the Oklahoma National Stockyards in Oklahoma City, Oklahoma.

Sleep is a 2004 graduate of the Missouri Auction School and has been a full-time auctioneer for about a year-and-a-half. The 25-year old says hearing his name called as champion was like a dream come true. Adding to the excitement - Sleep and his wife learned just before the contest that they’re expecting their first child. The baby is due just before the championship.

In all - eight of the 17 contestants at the contest in Crawford, Nebraska will advance to the WLAC. Sleep will be joined by reserve champion Rick Shoemaker of Kearney, Nebraska and runner-up champion Kevin Schow of Paxton, Nebraska - as well as the next five highest scorers - Ted Baum of O’Neill, Nebraska; Will Epperly of Moneta, Virginia; Tom Frey of Creston, Iowa; Andrew McDowell of Vandalia, Illinois; and Jason Santomaso of Sterling, Colorado.