Career Switch Pays Off For WLAC Qualifier Champion

Sixto Paiz of Portales, New Mexico (left) receives the grand champion belt buckle from Mike VanMaanen, Livestock Marketing Association Vice President and owner of Eastern Missouri Commission Company in Bowling Green. Paiz won the WLAC qualifier hosted Jan. 4, 2023 by Windsor Livestock Auction. At right is Jake Drenon, co-owner of Windsor Livestock Auction. (Photo by Kyle Hill, Alpha Ag Network)

Sixto Paiz has only made livestock auctioneering his career for six years, but in that time, he’s honed his craft to earn top marks from several of his peers. The New Mexico-based auctioneer won grand champion honors Wednesday at the World Livestock Auctioneer Championship qualifying event hosted by Windsor Livestock Auction, emerging from a crowded field of 45 contestants. Paiz says it didn’t take long after graduating auction school for him to begin competing, an opportunity he found appealing.

Central MO Info · 23 0106 New Mexico auctioneer Sixto Paiz cut 2

While Paiz calls New Mexico home, his work takes him across the Texas Panhandle and into Western Oklahoma. He credits the variety of sales, including car auctions, for keeping him sharp and versatile.

Central MO Info · 23 0106 New Mexico auctioneer Sixto Paiz cut 1

Sixto Paiz of New Mexico has qualified for the semifinals of the World Livestock Auctioneer Championships in three of the four years he’s competed. He’ll be among 31 contestants competing in the next round of the competition, set for June in Arcadia, Florida.

Paiz was Kyle’s guest on Ag Insight on Friday: