By Allison Peck | North Platte Post/Sandhills Post
Listen to the full interview with Seth Schneider on our Kubota Podcast
Hershey, Neb. — Most people recognize the sound of an auctioneer the moment they hear it. Few stop to think about how someone learns to do it — or how far that skill can take them.
For Seth Schneider of Hershey, Nebraska, it has taken him to the national stage.
Schneider recently placed in the top 10 at a World Livestock Auctioneer Championship qualifying event in Bowman, North Dakota. The finish earned him a spot in the 2026 World Livestock Auctioneer Championship, which will be held in St. Onge, South Dakota.
His path into auctioneering started early and close to home.
“It kind of runs in the family,” Schneider said. “My great-grandpa and my uncle were both auctioneers.”
As a kid, Schneider spent time at the sale barn with his grandmother, who fed a few head of cattle each year. Listening to auctioneers call bids left a strong impression.
“I just always loved listening to the auctioneer,” he said. “That’s when I decided it was something I wanted to do.”
By the time he was six or seven years old, Schneider was already practicing his chant. As he got older, sports and school took more of his time, but the interest never fully went away. In high school, a conversation with his agriculture teacher brought the idea back into focus.
“That’s when it really clicked,” Schneider said. “It just made sense.”
Learning to auction wasn’t easy. Schneider said it takes time and steady practice to find the right rhythm — and even more work to keep it sharp.
“Once you get your chant down, it starts to feel natural,” he said. “But it takes constant practice.”
That work paid off at the Bowman qualifying event, which was hosted by Sioux Falls Regional Livestock of Worthing, South Dakota. The contest marked Schneider’s fourth Livestock Marketing Association qualifying event.
When officials announced the top 10 finishers, Schneider’s name was called last.
“They definitely made me wait,” he said. “I was surprised, but really grateful.”
The competition drew auctioneers from across the United States, Canada and Mexico. Schneider said staying relaxed was important, especially before taking the block.
“You just try to stay calm, visit with people and keep your nerves under control,” he said.
Schneider now works weekly at the North Platte Stockyards and credits much of his growth to mentorship and experience.
“I’m lucky to work behind a really good mentor in Kyle Scowl,” he said. “I’ve learned a lot from him.”
While auctioneering often sounds fast and technical, Schneider said the job is really about people.
“For a lot of producers, selling cattle is their main paycheck for the year,” he said. “Being able to represent them and do a good job for them means a lot.”
Nebraska has a strong history in the World Livestock Auctioneer Championship, though it has been nearly two decades since the state last claimed the top title. The most recent Nebraska world champion was Matt Lowery of Burwell, who won the championship in 2008.
Despite the national recognition, Schneider said his focus remains the same.
“I just want to keep getting better and do the best job I can every week,” he said.
The 2026 World Livestock Auctioneer Championship will be livestreamed on the Livestock Marketing Association’s YouTube page, with a televised special later airing on RFD-TV.
For young people interested in auctioneering, Schneider said persistence matters.
“Don’t get discouraged,” he said. “Find a mentor and keep practicing.”
From family roots to a place on the world stage, Schneider’s story reflects both the tradition and the future of auctioneering in western Nebraska.