A League of Their Own: The Head-to-Head Auctioneer Contest Goes National and Heading to Las Vegas
What started as a casual idea between two Oklahoma cattlemen is turning into one of the most ambitious auctioneer competitions the livestock industry has ever seen.Ty and Casey sit down with Sam Stamper of Checotah Livestock and auctioneer Brian Marlin to break down A League of Their Own, a head-to-head auctioneer contest that's already paying out serious money and is about to get a whole lot bigger.Sam and Brian walk through how the concept grew out of their rodeo and match-roping roots, and how a phone call from a mutual friend eventually landed them in Oklahoma City drawing the whole thing out on a napkin with the LiveAg team. What they've built in year one is already turning heads — nine world champion auctioneers, weekly payouts, and over $63,000 paid out to competitors with zero entry fees.Here's what they get into:- The origin of A League of Their Own and how the head-to-head bracket format came together- The 2026 finals field — five world champions, two reserve world champions, an international champion, and more- What the payout structure looks like: $25,000 to win, $15,000 for second, $10,000 for third- The 2027 expansion plan — 66 auctioneers, 33 sale barn hosts, a March Madness-style bracket, and a $10,000 qualifier bonus- The big announcement — the 2027 A League of Their Own Finals are headed to the Golden Nugget in Las Vegas, Nevada, in partnership with LiveAgAll contest rounds will be broadcast live on LiveAg's YouTube channel. Visit live-ag.com for sponsorship availability and follow A League of Their Own on social media for updates.The We Live It podcast is proudly powered by BioZyme, the makers of VitaFerm® and Gain Smart®. Cattle health starts with proper nutrition, and that is why BioZyme® Inc., a leader in animal nutrition and health, is excited to partner with LiveAg, one of the fastest-growing livestock marketing firms in the country. Through LiveAg’s nationwide video auction platform and sale broadcast services, cattle fed VitaFerm and Gain Smart mineral are positioned in front of a national, competitive buyer base on sale day, often receiving premium returns. Learn more:https://biozymeinc.com/blog/biozyme-partners-with-liveag/?utm_source=live_ag&utm_medium=podcast&utm_campaign=live_ag_podcast_march00:00 — Welcome & Guest Introductions01:03 — Sam Stamper: Growing Up in Beggs, Oklahoma02:20 — The Jim Bob Cross Connection & Leasing the Checotah Facilities03:16 — Brian Marlin: Learning the Trade Under Brian Little & 20 Years Behind the Mic04:45 — The Origin of A League of Their Own: How the Head-to-Head Concept Was Born06:14 — Year One Recap: World Champions, Weekly Matchups & the Competition Field07:22 — The 2025 Finals Payout: $25K to Win, $15K for Second, $10K for Third08:06 — How the Weekly Payout Structure Works — $63,000 Out With Zero Entry Fees08:56 — The 2027 Expansion: 66 Auctioneers, 33 Host Barns & a National Bracket11:16 — The Big Announcement: A League of Their Own Finals Coming to Las Vegas11:51 — How LiveAg Got Involved13:39 — The Qualifier Format & How Young Auctioneers Get a Shot15:32 — Spectator Involvement and What's Coming Down the Road16:23 — Barn Matchups Will Be Broadcast on LiveAg'16:56 — How the Barn Fee Structure Works & What Host Barns Stand to Win18:11 — Final Thoughts: Building Something on a Kingdom Foundation21:13 — How to Get Involved, Sponsorship Opportunities & Contact Info
