There was just one championship title left for Ty Thompson to win in Livestock Marketing Association’s World Livestock Auctioneer Championship–that of world champion.

And that’s the one he took home, following competition here June 13 at the Fergus Falls Livestock Auction Market in Fegus Falls, Minnesota.

This was the Billings, Montana, auctioneer’s 12th time in the WLAC. He’s come close to winning the contest, taking the reserve championship twice, and the runner-up spot last year. Before this year, he’d also been one of the ten finalists seven times.

The 2009 reserve world champion is Tom Frey, Creston, Iowa, and the runner-up world champion is Kyle J. Shobe, Lewistown, Mont.

Asked about the 12 years he’s spent pursuing the world title, Thompson said, “I’m thankful it took this long, because I think it’ll make me a better champion.”

His championship year will put him on the road for LMA, appearing at livestock markets and other events across the country–and Thompson said he’s “looking forward to it, because livestock marketing has been good to me and my family, and I want to give something back.”

He was sponsored by Public Auction Yards, Billings Livestock Commission, Northern Livestock Video, all in Billings, and Winter Livestock, Inc./ Riverton Livestock Auction, Riverton, Wyoming.

Reserve world champion Frey is also a veteran contestant, having been a finalist several times. His previous highest finish was runner-up world champion in 2007.

At age 47, Frey is very aware of the many younger contestants vying for the title. As far as re-entering the contest, he said, “If my staying in the contest keeps the young guys interested in auctioneering and the contest, I’ll keep entering.”

His sponsors were the market he owns and operates, Creston Livestock Auction, Inc., Creston, Iowa, and Unionville Livestock Market, Inc., Unionville, Missiouri.

Runner-up world champion isn’t the only title Shobe won. He was also named the Audrey K. Banks “Rookie of the Year,” the highest-scoring first-time entrant to make the semi-finals. That earned him a $500 check from LMA.

The award is named in honor of Banks, a long-time LMA employee who worked on the WLAC for over three decades.

Shobe, 26, said he felt “blown away” by his success as a first-time entrant.

“I was surprised to make the finals, and I didn’t think I had a chance to make the top three,” he said.

His sponsors were the Lewistown Livestock Auction, Lewistown, Mont.