World Champion Auctioneer Jace Thompson on Carrying the Family Torch

In this episode of We Live It, Ty deCordova and Wade Leist sit down with Jace Thompson, the reigning World Champion Livestock Market Auctioneer, live at the Buffalo Bill Center of the West in Cody, Wyoming. Jace traces his family's three-generation cattle marketing legacy — starting with grandfather Warren Thompson, who built a sale barn legacy in Riverton, Wyoming, from nothing, through his father's 2009 World Championship and move to Billings working alongside Pat Goggins, and finally to Jace's own path from cattle work into auctioneering roughly five to six years ago. The conversation gets personal: Jace opens up about growing up with an auctioneer father, the pivotal role his mom played in bridging that gap and keeping him in the business during a moment he nearly walked away, and what it meant to hear his name called as champion after years of watching from the crowd. Ty, who hired a 21-year-old Jace on the spot in Billings, shares his own side of that story. They also dig into what the title actually involves day to day — serving as a spokesperson for the Livestock Marketing Association (LMA) and its nearly 800 member markets, attending the Common Ground Summit in Fort Worth, and speaking to high schoolers about careers in the cattle and auctioneering business. Whether you're a young producer figuring out your path, an aspiring competition auctioneer, or just someone who loves a good family story rooted in the cattle business, this conversation is one you won't want to miss. Topics Covered: \- Three generations of the Thompson family cattle marketing legacy \- His mom's role bridging the gap and keeping him in the business \- Watching his dad win the 2009 World Championship \- Ty's story of hiring a 21-year-old Jace in Billings \- Duties of a World Champion: LMA spokesperson, nearly 800 member markets \- The Common Ground Summit and what's ahead for LMA \- Inspiring the next generation to get into the cattle and auctioneering business \- Winning the world title in just three tries — what changed \- Advice for anyone chasing a spot in a livestock auctioneering contest 🧬 Powered by BioZyme® The We Live It podcast is proudly powered by BioZyme, the makers of VitaFerm® and Gain Smart®. Proper cattle nutrition is the foundation of livestock health. Through LiveAg's nationwide video auction platform, cattle fed BioZyme minerals gain exposure to a national buyer base, often resulting in premium returns. 🔗 Learn More: https://biozymeinc.com/blog/biozyme-partners-with-liveag/ Interested in marketing your cattle or advertising on We Live It? Contact Jean at jean@live-ag.com or Keith at Keith@Live-Ag.com. Don't forget to subscribe and hit the bell so you never miss an episode! 00:00 Introduction — Live from Cody, Wyoming 02:43 Meet Jace Thompson, World Champion Auctioneer 03:37 Three Generations: Warren, Ty & Jace 04:33 Building the Family Cattle Marketing Business 05:33 Growing Up Under a Demanding Father 06:25 Watching His Dad Win the 2009 World Championship 08:20 Joe: The Great Auctioneer Who Never Got the Buckle 09:42 His Mom's Role: Bridging the Gap 11:04 The Ledge Moment — Almost Walking Away for Motorcycle Racing 11:18 Ty's Story: Hiring a 21-Year-Old Jace in Billings 15:01 Duties of a World Champion: LMA Spokesperson 15:54 Nearly 800 Member Markets & the Common Ground Summit 16:45 Inspiring the Next Generation of Auctioneers 18:11 Goals for the Next Year 19:19 Winning the Title in Just Three Tries 19:54 What Changed: Turning Everyday Work Into Contest Prep 21:38 Advice for Aspiring Competition Auctioneers 23:44 Thank Yous and Closing Thoughts